University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Your favor of the 9th, by the Orange post arrived
here on the 18th; that of the 12 by the Richmond
post, on the 20th so that it appears the latter was
one day less on the way. It is to be remarked
however that as the Orange post leaves Charlottesville
on tuesday he might easily be in Fredericksburg
on thursday, in time for the mail which passes
thro' it on that day to Dumfries. If this despatch
is not required of him it ought to be. It would
make a difference of two days in the journey. Or at
least the post might wait a day in Charlottesville

and be in time for the Saturday's mail at Fredericksburg.

Our weather here has been as fine as you describe
yours. Yesterday there was a change. It was cold,
cloudy, and inclined to snow. To-day we have a
bright day, and not very cold. Prices here are very
different from yours. Wheat is at 13 or 14s. &
flour in proportion. In general, things are 50 Per
Ct beyond the prices of last winter. The phenomenon
you wish to have explained is as little understood
here as with you; but it would be here quite
unfashionable to suppose it needed explanations.
It is impossible to give you an idea of the force with
which the tide has set in a particular direction. It
has been too violent not to be soon followed by a
change In fact I think a change has begun already.
The danger will then be of as violent a reflux to the
opposite extreme.

The attack made on the essential & constitutional
right of the Citizen in the blow levelled at the
"self-created Societies," does not appear to have
had the effect intended. It is and must be felt by
every man who values liberty whatever opinions he
may have of the use or abuse of it by those institutions.
You will see that the appeal is begun to the
public sentiment by the injured parties. The Republican
society of Baltimore set the example.
That of Newark has advertised a meeting of its
members. It is said that if Edwd Livingston, as is
generally believed, has outvoted Watts for the H. of
Reps he is indebted for it to the invigorated exertions

of the Democratic society of that place, of
which he is himself a member. In Boston the subject
is well understood, and handled in the Newspapers
on the republican side with industry &
address.

The elections in Massts have turned out rather
better than was of late expected. The two republican
members have stood their ground; in spite of
the most unexampled operations agst them. Ames
is said to owe his success to the votes of negroes &
British sailors smuggled under a very lax mode of
conducting the election there. Sedgwick & Goodhue
have bare majorities. Dexter is to run another
heat, but will succeed; Gerry, his only considerable
competitor, & who would outvote him, refusing to
be elected. There are several changes in the remainder
of the Delegation, and some of them greatly
for the better. In New York there will be at least
half republicans; perhaps more. It has unluckily
happened that in 2 Districts two republicans set up
agst one Anti. The consequence is that a man is
re-elected who would not otherwise have taken the
field; and there is some danger of a similar consequence
in the other district. In N. Jersey, it is
said that not more than one of the old members will
be returned. The people all over the State are
signing with avidity a remonstrance against the
high salaries of the Govt.

Hamilton is to resign, according to his own
notification the last of Feby. His object is not yet
unfolded. Knox as the shadow follows the substance.

Their successors are not yet designated by
any circumstance that has escaped.

What think you of a project to disfranchise the
insurgent Counties by a bill of exclusion agst their
Reps in the State Legislature? The object is to pave
the way for Bingham or Fitzsimmons as Senator, &
to give an example for rejecting Galatin in the H. of
Reps at the next Congress of which he is a member.
The proposition has been laid on the table and the
event is uncertain. There is some probability the
violence of the measure may defeat it; nor is it
certain I am told that if carried thro' it would
answer the purpose of its authors.