MVB to Thomas Jefferson, c8 June 1824
Dear Sir,
I send you by the mail of to day Pickerings review. You will see that He <did> the asperities ^violence^ of his disposition ^political antipathies^ instead of yielding in the course of nature to the influence of time & retirement have increased with his years. There is I fear too much reason to believe that his individual case form ^furnishes^ a correct data ^criterion^ by which to judge ^test^ of the temper of those with whom he was hitherto acted ^of his party^ & to estimate the probable consequences of their direct or indirect restoration to power under the specious garb ^pretence^ of an amalgamation of parties. The Mr Crawford has been worse since I left here. In consequence of which the his friends sent for Dr Potter a distinguished Physician of Baltimore. He visited Mr C. on Sunday Saturday for the 2d time & in a note ^we^ recd. from him in the evening he says to us “Mr Crawfords situation is greatly ameliorated & I entertain no doubt of his Speedy restoration to perfect health.”
The committee met yesterday. Edward appeared and desired to know in what character he was to be regarded. He said for declined being ^considered as the^ a prosecutor said he was not a witness & that he had nothing to establish by his own Testimony. The committee after deliberation informed him that he had made accusations agt. Mr Crawford which it became a public duty to have examined into, that they had sent for him to give him an opportunity to support them & that they would examine him him as a Witness. He then requested two witnesses to be sent for & the committee adjornd. The His object he doubtless was to prevent impeachment of his credit which cant. I do not know that whether the com. consider their proceeding as public. I have this information from Mr Forsyth ^who attends for Mr Crawford^ & there can be no harm in communicating it to you. Mr Forsyth desires to be remembered to you & I promised to present his best respects to Miss Ellen but shamefully neglected it. Will you have the goodness to present remember me to Mr & Mrs. Randolph & the young ladies & to accept the assurance of the ^my^ perfect respect & warmest affectionate regards
MVB
Dr Letter to Mr Jefferson
He showed me a letter fron Pensylvania urging with great warmth earnesness the advantage which would be derived in that state from the ^some^ expression by you of to the on the subject of the persecutions to which Mr Crawford is incessantly exposed. But that I fear is not attainable. At all events It would not become to me to suggest any thing in regard to it.