You will probably by this time begin to feel some anxiety as to the course of events in this quarter. Some of your correspondents have no doubt communicated to you, their hopes, and their fears. I am myself a calm observer, and wait with great composure for the moving of the Waters: Rumours we have, and in abundance; the real intentions of the Governor, if Known at all, are confided to the favor'd few. Those who want, and expect Office, are on tiptoe; and it is amusing to hear the various prognostications which are made: I can truly say, that my chief solicitude is for the credit, and the honor, of the Republican party. Should others be nominated, to the Supreme Bench, than the present incumbents, my wish, is to have those who are Democrats, in the true acceptation of that appellation.

Our friend Judge S is, as you will readily suppose, in constant agitation on the subject of Judicial appointments: I frequently tell him, that from a regard to the party, & "for Public good" He should allow his friends to put him forward, but He is as wild as many Others in making his selection of Candidates.

It Often occurs to me, of how little importance a Governor of this State, as such, can be under the new Constitution, after all the great appointments are once made. To retain Worshippers, or even followers, the name, the talents, and the splendid schemes, of a Clinton, are required: common place virtues are not sufficient. I am scolded for not being anxious to remove Mr. C as one of the Canal Commissioners; you was always opposed to this step, and when the effect to the Party might have been good, now it would appear as a pitiful exertion of power: Neither do I think it necessary for an present Governor's popularity or glory. He must discover some new field wherein to reap his laurels. In "these dull and piping times of peace," at the present "era of good feelings" there are however, no such opportunities as Tompkins had, to deserve, and regain the Affections of the great Republican family, as our friend P. RLivingston would say.

The Senate has not one Political Enemy in its bosom, nor, so far as I can discover, disaffected friend. The Assembly is composed almost wholly of Political friends, & who possess honest good feelings; but with all this calm, all this apparent unanimity, the fires may be, at this moment, preparing under our feet, and the Clouds gathering over our heads. Last Evening there was a general meeting in the Assembly Chamber, for the purpose of designating the persons to be supported for the great State Office; nothing was determined on, but the meeting adjourned until the 2nd. Teusday of February. The present Incumbents will no doubt be continued, altho' Mr <Dix> (part of whose merits consists in having obliged you by waving his nomination in 1821 as a Candidate for Member of Congress in favor of Mr Bleecker) is <application> ^an applicant^ for the Treasurers Office. He is in defatigable in soliciting the support of members, and our <worthy> friend Knower is somewhat annoyed; There is no danger in my opinion.

Drawing for the term of three years in the Senate, is particularly gratifying to me. A Conflict will be avoided in this City and County at the next election. I shall have a voice in making Electors of President and V.P., and shall go into another Governor's (the continuation of the present one of course) term, unless I resign my seat prior to those periods. It would have comported with my own feelings, and have conduced much to the comfort of my family, to have withdrawn from the City Office I yet hold; but your friend Jenkins having become the Federal Candidate, and great and violent exertions having been made to effect his appointment, I have determined not to decline. My Political friends are zealous, and can only, by surprize, or accident, be defeated. The loss of power is not forgiven by the Clintonians & Federalists, who view me as one of the humble instruments of their discomfiture in this quarter; neither is the Post Office business forgotten by them, it is not a year since that I was denounced by them at a Meeting at Skinners Mansion House, as a Jacobin & disorganizer, for presiding at Meeting at Rochwells on that subject.

I hope that now you are engaged in the great national field of Politics and Government, you will not overlook the less, but still important political concerns of your own State. Among the many friends you have in it, none can feel a greater Interest in your happiness than Dear Sir