pinion, the period
is not remote when the public good will require _substitutes_ for the
_differing members_ of your administration. The continuance of a
division must destroy the energy of government, which will be little
enough with the strictest union. On my part there will be the most
cheerful acquiescence in such a result.

"I trust, sir, that the greatest frankness has always
marked, and will always mark, every step of my conduct
toward you. In this disposition, I can not conceal from you
that I have had some instrumentality of late in the
retaliations which have fallen upon certain public
characters, and that I find myself placed in a situation not
to be able to recede _for the present_.

"I considered myself as compelled to this conduct by
reasons, public as well as personal, of the most cogent
nature. I _know_ that I have been an object of uniform
opposition from Mr. Jefferson, from the moment of his coming
to the city of New York to enter upon his present office. I
know from the most authentic sources that I have been the
frequent subject of the most unkind whispers and
insinuations from the same quarter. I have long seen a
formed party in the legislature, under his auspices, bent
upon my subversion. I can not doubt, from the evidence I
possess, that the _National Gazette_ was instituted by him
for political purposes, and that one leading object of it
has been to render me and all the measures connected with my
department as odious as possible. Nevertheless, I can truly
say, that, except explanations to confidential friends, I
never, directly or indirectly, retaliated or countenanced
retaliation till very lately. I can even assure you that I
was instrumental in preventing a very severe and systematic
attack upon Mr. Jefferson by an association of two or three
individuals, in consequence of the persecution which he
brought upon the vice-president by his indiscreet and light
letter to the printer, transmitting Paine's pamphlet.

"As long as I saw no danger to the government from the
machinations which were going on, I resolved to be a silent
sufferer of the injuries which were done me. I determined to
avoid giving occasion to anything which could manifest to
the world dissentions among the principal characters of the
government--a thi