I returned on Thursday from my Western excursion. It has been very pleasant & I hope politically speaking has been equally profitable. We shall beat them greatly. The anti-Masonic affair is the only thing that requires looking to. Beg Noah & Coleman to treat the matter cautiously. I have written to the former upon the point. The excitement has been vastly greater than I supposed but has assumed a much milder aspect.

Were it not for the pledges given not to vote for a mason & the opprobrium of reproaches from their brethren most of the antimasonics who would otherwise have been with us would be now, as matters stand the friends of the administration and as much troubled with the subject as we are. You can have no idea how much the reputation of the Eveng Post has improved in the Country. It is now generally admitted to be one of the ablest papers in the Union.

Let me entreat you to give your undivided attention to the subject of funds. You must absolutely do more in Nyork than you promised. Our friends here (at best but poor) will break down. This County alone will be ^a^ most oppressive struggle. The Patroon has been induced by those who influence him to his prejudice to consent to run for Congress & our friends are determined to beat him. I am entirely satisfied that he cannot save the electoral vote for them. We should not suffer the enemy to retain his stores ammunition after he has been routed. Will not the result of the Kentucky election induce them to bet. Between us & the post, make this bet for me or on our joint account ^as you please^ viz $500 that Thompson will be defeated whoever our candidate may be & $100 on every thousand of a majority up 5,000, or if you cant do better say $500 on the result & $50 on every thousand up to Ten thousand. My visit through the Western Country was very gratifying. At every place where I stopt for ever so short a period I found myself in a few moments surrounded by crowds of cheerful countenances and stout hearts. Let Noah republish the bet. He mangles it as if he was shy of the question of a majority in the State. Remember me kindly to Mrs Hamilton & believe me to be