University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Dear Sir,—Your favor of the 1st instant was to
have been acknowledged a week ago, but the irregularity
of the post occasioned by high waters has delayed
it to the present opportunity. I have now to
acknowledge your two subsequent ones of the 12th &

19th. In compliance with the last, I had proposed to
leave home in a few days, so as to be with you shortly
after the 4th of March. A melancholy occurrence
has arrested this intention. My father's health for
several weeks latterly seemed to revive, and we had
hopes that the approach of milder seasons would
still further contribute to keep him with us. A few
days past however he became sensibly worse, and
yesterday morning rather suddenly, tho' very gently
the flame of life went out. It is impossible for me
now to speak of my movements with precision. Altho'
the exact degree of agency devolving on me remains
to be known, a crowd of indispensable attentions
must necessarily be due from me. In this posture
of things I can only say that I shall wait the return
of the post after this reaches, by which I hope to
learn whether your intended continuance at Washington
will admit, and the state of things will require,
my being there before you leave it. By this information
I shall be governed, unless imperiously controlled
by circumstances here.

The conduct of Mr. A. is not such as was to have
been wished or perhaps, expected. Instead of
smoothing the path for his successor, he plays into
the hands of those who are endeavoring to strew it
with as many difficulties as possible; and with this
view does not manifest a very squeamish regard to
the Constn. Will not his appts. to offices, not vacant
actually at the time, even if afterwards vacated by
acceptances of the translations, be null?

The result of the contest in the H. of R. was generally

looked for in this quarter. It was thought not
probable that the phalanx would hold out agst. the
general revolt of its partizans out of doors & without
any military force to abet usurpation. How fortunate
that the latter has been withheld: and what a lesson
to America & the world, is given by the efficacy
of the public will when there is no army to be turned
agst. it!

I observe that a Come. is appd. to enquire into the
effects of the late fires[140] This is no doubt proper;
but does not I think promise much. More is to be
expected from the scrutinies of honest heads of
Depts., aided by the documents & other evidences
which they will have time & the best means of examining.
I take for granted one of the first steps of the
new admn. will be to institute returns, particularly
in the Navy & war depts., of the precise state in which
every circumstance involved in them, comes into the
new hands. This will answer the double purpose of
enabling the public to do justice both to the authors
of past errors & abuses and the authors of future
reforms.

I recd. a few days ago the inclosed letter from Mr.
Page. Altho' there are parts of it, which might
well be omitted in the transmission to you, yet the
length of the proper extracts tempts me to shun the
trouble of making them. In justice to Docr. Tucker,

I say with pleasure, that I have always regarded him
as a man of the greatest moral & political probity,
truly attached to Republican principles, of a very
ingenious mind, extensive information, & great
exactitude in his ideas & habits of business; and,
consequently well fitted for public service.—The
letter from Callendar seems from its contents to have
been meant for you, tho. superscribed to me.