Your letter came only in season to relieve me from the apprehension that I was worse off ^<illegible>^ than to have been forgotten by Mrs Rives & yourself. There are so many ways in which I without knowing it, give offence to public men, that I find I am getting somewhat suspicious of my friends—a vice I hate above all others. But as we are all right again upon the point—at least shall be when I receive Mrs Rives’ promised letter, I will say no more upon the <point> ^subject^. I rejoice to perceive by the scope of your letter that you have reasonable confidence in the result of your Senator election. Be assured that the results in Penn. N. Jersey, Georgia, Ohio, & Nyork will cure your people of all desire to disregard instructions. All I apprehend is that the choice may fall on some other person than yourself although I have been able to fashion, for myself many plausible reasons why the opposition ever, might when <illegible> from Leigh, prefer to vote for you. Independent of all regard to personal preference, I cannot allow myself to doubt, that the people of Virginia will see how much the election of any other person would fall short of that complete vindication of the supremacy of the popular will, which will be accomplished in almost every other State, & which the Republicans of the Union are so desirous of seeing effected in Virginia also. If you take the Argus (as you ought to do) you will see that we have not forgotten you in this. There has been scarcely a public meeting (and we have had thousands of them,) at which justice has not been done to you.

I shall be at Washington by the 20th. of Nov I hope, & will present your views truly to the President. But you may take it for granted, that a strong (but I trust prudent) statement of the injuries we have recd. from France will be made. It cost the President a great effort to allow the matter to pass by last Winter, & the French Government have behaved very badly. The remark you made about the late meeting of the Deputies, & the improbability of their doing any thing at it are very just, but that matter is not as well understood here, generally, as we understand it. You in Virginia or I might perhaps rather say they, are prone to apprehend rash acts from the Genl., but they must admit, that, after all he has been oftener in the right than others. He will work this matter out well also. I have been a strenuous advocate for forbearance heretofore ^(more so than you are aware of)^ & will continue to be for tempranc and firmness. before the Give me your ideas upon the subject <illegible> ^based^ on the assumption that the subject is to ^be^ noticed.

I have been much of a traveller this summer, & have spent it quite pleasantly. For the last month I have been in the anti-Masonic region, & have been soundly abused for it; but that will do me no harm nor the enemy any good. The adverse results in other states have rendered the opposition in them absolutely desperate—reckless they were before. We are therefore to have a ferocious election, although they are not I believe as <illegible> for riots as they were. Of our success I do not however entertain a doubt; and the results in Penn. Georgia, New Jersey, Maine & Nyork followed up by an ^their^ overthrow here will I think make Washington habitable next winter. I shall be disappointed if you & Mrs. Rives are not there to see. My calculation is that Mr. Leigh will resign about the first of Jany, and that we shall have the pleasure of your company for about two months—at all events at the ^an^ extra session.

Say to Mrs. R that the dangerous books are once more in my custody where they shall be safely kept. Mrs. Van Rensselear has read them with great satisfaction as she informs me, & as I presumed she has informed Mrs R. also. I hope to receive my instructions in regard to their further disposition before I leave here for Nyork which will I trust be about the 5th of Nov.

Excuse this scrawl. Remember me kindly to Mrs Rives & ^to^ your sons & believe me to be.