ppose generally.
It arrested my buildings very suddenly, when eight days more would
have completed my walls, and permitted us to cover in. The drought is
excessive. From the middle of October to the middle of December, not
rain enough to lay the dust. A few days ago there fell a small rain, but
the succeeding cold has probably prevented it from sprouting the grain
sown during the drought.

Present me in friendly terms to Messrs. Giles, Venable, and Page. Adieu
affectionately.

LETTER CCI.--TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE, December 27, 1796

TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE.

Monticello, December 27, 1796.

Mr Dear Sir,

*****

You have seen my name lately tacked to so much of eulogy and of abuse,
that I dare say you hardly thought it meant your old acquaintance of
'76. In truth, I did not know myself under the pens either of my friends
or foes. It is unfortunate for our peace that unmerited abuse wounds,
while unmerited praise has not the power to heal. These are hard wages
for the services of all the active and healthy years of one's life. I
had retired after five and twenty years of constant occupation in public
affairs, and total abandonment of my own. I retired much poorer than
when I entered the public service, and desired nothing but rest and
oblivion. My name, however, was again brought forward, without concert
or expectation on my part; (on my salvation I declare it.) I do not as
yet know the result, as a matter of fact; for in my retired canton we
have nothing later from Philadelphia than of the second week of this
month. Yet I have never one moment doubted the result I knew it was
impossible Mr. Adams should lose a vote north of the Delaware, and that
the free and moral agency of the south would furnish him an abundant
supplement. On principles of public respect I should not have refused;
but I protest before my God that I shall, from the bottom of my heart,
rejoice at escaping. I know well that no man will ever bring out of that
office the reputation which carries him into it. The honey-moon would be
as short in that case as in any other, and its moments of extacy would
be ransomed by years of torment and hatred. I shall highly value indeed,
the share which I may have had in the late vote, as an evidence of the
share I hold in the esteem of my countrymen. But in this point of view,
a few votes more or less will be little sensible, and in every other,
the minor will be preferred by me to the major vote. I have no ambition