University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MONROE.

Dear Sir,—I was favored a few days ago with
yours of the 28th ult. I am under great obligations
for your kindness in the affair with Taylor. My late
letters will have informed you of my wishes that you
may fully partake of the bargain entered into already,
as well as every future adventure in that quarter.
The encouragement you give me to expect your
company has in a manner determined me to encounter
a journey as soon as I can conveniently make preparation
for it. I am the rather induced to do it as I
shall be the more able by that means to accelerate a
repayment of your kind advances, having some little
resources in Philada. of wch. I must avail myself for
that purpose. My next will probably tell you when I
shall be able to set out.

I think, with you, that it would have an odd appearance

for two Conventions to be sitting at the same
time, with powers in part concurrent. The reasons
you give seem also to be valid against augmenting
the powers of that which is to meet at Annapolis. I
am not surprized therefore at the embarrassment of
Congress in the present conjuncture. Will it not be
best on the whole to suspend measures for a more
thorough cure of our federal system, till the partial
experiment shall have been made. If the spirit of the
Conventioners should be friendly to the Union, and
their proceedings well conducted, their return into the
Councils of their respective States will greatly facilitate
any subsequent measures which may be set on
foot by Congress, or by any of the States.

Great changes have taken place in the late elections.
I regret much that we are not to have your
aid. It will be greatly needed I am sure. Mercer it
seems lost his election by the same number of votes
as left you out. He was absent at the time or he
would no doubt have been elected. Have you seen
his pamphlet? You will have heard of the election
of Col. Mason, Genl Nelson, Mann Page, G. Nicholas,
Jno Nicholas, & Col. Bland. Col. Mason will be an
inestimable acquisition on most of the great points.
On the port bill he is to be equally dreaded. In
fact I consider that measure as lost almost at any
rate. There was a majority agst. it last session if
it had been skilfully made use of. To force the
trade to Norfolk & Alexandria, without preparations
for it at those places, will be considered as injurious.
And so little ground is there for confidence in the

stability of the Legislature that no preparations will
ever be made in consequence of a preceding law.
The transition must of necessity therefore be at any
time abrupt and inconvenient. I am somewhat apprehensive,
likewise, that Col. Mason may not be
fully cured of his anti-federal prejudices.

We hear from Kentucky that the Savages continue
to disquiet them. Col. W. Christian it is said lately
lost his life in pursuing a few who had made an inroad
on the settlement. We are told too that the proposed
separation is growing very unpopular among them.

I am Dr Sir with great affection