I met M L Davis yesterday for the first time since the Election when he says to me, "what a Cunning man that Van Buren is, why do you know that he & Eckford went on to Philadelphia together," I replied I did not, "They did" said Davis "And he has produced in the mind of Eckford a wonderful change in opinion in relation to his political character. Eckford says he is an open, frank sincere man, He thinks these people who call him an intriguing artful fellow lie about him." Eckford says he watched him all the way, & all the time they stayed together there & compared what he said at one time & ^with^ what he said at another and if he (VB) had not have been an honest sincere man, it would not have matched & come out ship shape so well" "Eckford has written Crawford that Van Buren is a Crawford man, & that he is the man that ought to be consulted at Washington in every thing that relates to Newyork." "He has written Crawford that his friends ought to treat Mr Van Buren as one belonging to their Interest & give him their unhesitating confidence." This Davis gives as the language of Mr Eckfords & says ^in addition to the above^ that you have made a wonderful favorable impression towards yourself in his Eckfords mind" and he says he "is much disposed to think that he (Davis) has never properly understood your character." I have no doubt that Eckford had this Conversation with Davis & that Davis has correctly repeated it, and I do not know what particular motive Davis had in detailing it to me. He may have supposed that I should tell [it to] you, & that it was important [to] have you know that Mr E was disposed to be your friend. I only know that with Eckford & Davis (& they are in fact but one & indivisible) every Consideration bends to the promotion of Mr Crawfords interest & the discussion of that subject occupies at least one half of their time. The new Paper here is said will go into the field the first of January. I yet doubt very much whether one will be started. The Presidents Message will be published here in a few hours. I have not yet seen it. The melancholy fate of poor Allen is universally regretted & if Congress does not take some bold & decisive measures on the subject of the piracy, the people in this part of the country will denounce the whole administration, Congress & all. Sandford wishes to be Chancellor.