copy
omitted to be retained_.

Dear Sir,

Yours of December the 19th is safely received. I never entertained a
doubt of the event of the election. I knew that the eastern troops
were trained in the schools of their town-meetings, to sacrifice little
differences of opinion to the solid advantages of operating in phalanx,
and that the more free and moral agency of the other States would fully
supply their deficiency. I had no expectation, indeed, that the vote
would have approached so near an equality. It is difficult to obtain
full credit to declarations of disinclination to honors, and most so
with those who still remain in the world. But never was there a more
solid unwillingness, founded on rigorous calculation, formed in the mind
of any man, short of peremptory refusal. No arguments, therefore, Were
necessary to reconcile me to a relinquishment of the first office, or
acceptance of the second. No motive could have induced me to undertake
the first, but that of putting our vessel upon her republican tack, and
preventing her being driven too far to leeward of her true principles.
And the second is the only office in the world about which I cannot
decide in my own mind, whether I had rather have it or not have it.
Pride does not enter into the estimate. For I think with the Romans of
old, that the General of to-day should be a common soldier to-morrow, if
necessary. But as to Mr. Adams, particularly, I could have no feelings
which would revolt at being placed in a secondary station to him. I
am his junior in life, I was his junior in Congress, his junior in the
diplomatic line, and lately his junior in our civil government. I had
written him the enclosed letter before the receipt of yours. I had
intended it for some time, but had put it off, from time to time, from
the discouragement of despair to make him believe me sincere. As the
information by the last post does not make it necessary to change any
thing in the letter, I enclose it open for your perusal, as well that
you may be possessed of the true state of dispositions between us,
as that if there be any circumstance which might render its delivery
ineligible, you may return it to me. If Mr. Adams could be induced to
administer the government on its true principles, quitting his bias for
an English constitution, it would be worthy consideration whether it
would not be for the public good, to come to a good understanding with
him as to his future elections. He is