Yours of the 28th. I have this day received. If as you supposed you owed any duty to the public in relation to this matter, it appears to me that what you have already done, amounts to a full discharge of it, as it certainly does in the most ample manner of the claims of private friendship. With the President I do not see that any farther communication can with propriety be had; & Mr. As disposition needs no improvement. The conduct of the latter gentleman has made a very favourable impression on my mind, of which I hope some day to be able to give him suitable proof. On the subject of the Caucus proceedings, I can only say that the circumstance, that their tendency and design does not accord with the views of two of my best friends, (yourself & the Secty of the navy) is & has throughout been to me a source of sincere regret. But it was unavoidable. I had taken my stand unreservedly on the Presidential question, & it would not have been proper or creditable to me, to have halted on account of the new situation in which I had unexpectedly been placed, nor do I believe that such would be a ^the^ course you would have advised. The Caucus, & the expression of Sentiment they made, was deemed a necessary commencement of the measures proper to be adopted to secure the end in view. It was not held until the day but one before the rising of the Legislature, & you will admit that the manner & form of their proceedings are at least unexceptionable.

I do not know my dear Sir what more I can say upon this Subject. I had looked to the State of things, we supposed we had reason to expect, as one, which would effectually prevent the possibility of future collision between us, & you will I know believe me when I say, that, that was very far from being the least pleasant view in which the subject presented itself to me. I infer from Mr As. letter that a different course is most probably designed, & I must continue my labours in the Vineyard, which I shall do with undiminished good humour, & in doing so shall rely on that liberality, of which I have had such abundant proof, as my security agt. the loss of your respect & esteem. I send you a copy of the letter I wrote in answer to the Secretary of the navy & which I hope will meet your approbation & also one I recd. from him in reply to it.