TO JAMES MADISON.

Monticello, September 21,1795.

I received, about three weeks ago, a box containing six dozen volumes,
of two hundred and eighty-three pages, 12mo. with a letter from Lambert,
Beckley's clerk, that they came from Mr. Beckley, and were to be divided
between yourself, J. Walker, and myself. I have sent two dozen to J.
Walker, and shall be glad of a conveyance for yours. In the mean time,
I send you by post, the title-page, table of contents, and one of the
pieces, Curtius, lest it should not have come to you otherwise. It is
evidently written by Hamilton, giving a first and general view of the
subject, that the public mind might be kept a little in check, till he
could resume the subject more at large from the beginning, under his
second signature of Camillas. The piece called 'The Features of the
Treaty,' I do not send, because you have seen it in the newspapers. It
is said to be written by Coxe, but I should rather suspect by Beckley.
The antidote is certainly not strong enough for the poison of Curtius.
If I had not been informed the present came from Beckley, I should
have suspected it from Jay or Hamilton. I gave a copy or two, by way of
experiment, to honest, sound-hearted men of common understanding, and
they were not able to parry the sophistry of Curtius. I have ceased,
therefore, to give them. Hamilton is really a colossus to the
anti-republican party. Without numbers, he is an host within himself.
They have got themselves into a defile, where they might be finished;
but too much security on the republican part will give time to his
talents and indefatigableness to extricate them. We have had only
middling performances to oppose to him. In truth when he comes forward,
there is nobody but yourself who can meet him. His adversaries having
begun the attack, he has the advantage of answering them, and remains
unanswered himself. A solid reply might yet completely demolish what was
too feebly attacked, and has gathered strength from the weakness of
the attack. The merchants were certainly (except those of them who are
English) as open-mouthed at first against the treaty, as any. But the
general expression of indignation has alarmed them for the strength of
the government. They have feared the shock would be too great, and have
chosen to tack about and support both treaty and government, rather than
risk the government. Thus it is, that Hamilton, Jay, &c. in the boldest
act they ever ventured on to