MVB to A[ndrew] Jackson, 19 August 1833
Saratoga Springs
August 19th 33
My dear Sir,
I red. yours with its inclosure last evening & am happy to hear that your health is improving. I beg you to remain as long as you possibly can. The first weeks in September are you know the worst weeks in Washington. I shall give a seasonable & thorough attention to both the papers you have had the goo^d^ness to submit to my consideration. In reg The Land question is a matter of great importance and cannot be treated with too much care. If I do no good, <illegible> I shall try to do no harm to your reasons. In respect to the Bank I regard the only open question to be, whether an order shall be given for the discontinuance to take effect at the commencement of the fiscal year!, or whether to take effect before the meeting of Congress. Much is to be said on both sides of the question & you shall have my opinion definitely on the point in due season. You know the estimation in which I hold Mr Wright’s opinion. You have not had sufficient opportunities to know him but you may be assured that there are but few men in the Country whose advise can be relied on with more safety. He resides some distance from here. I sent for him & had an interview with him yesterday. He went to Albany last night to advise with two or three of our most discreet friends there & then to write me his own views to be transmitted to you. Since receiving your letter I have written to him inviting him to accompany me Oswego, where I go tomorrow via Canada & shall be absent from Albany about two weeks. If he goes we will discuss the two subjects at full length & let you have the benefit (if any of our cogitations). This Bank matter is to be the great finale of your public life & I feel on that account a degree of solicitude about it but little less than that which is inspired by the public considerations connected with it. I hope we shall in the end see the matter in precisely the same light; but be that as it may, inasmuch as I know no man in whom the purity of whose ^intentions as it respects the public^ I have greater, if as great confidence, as I have in yours, & as I cannot but look upon you, as incomparably the most faithful, efficient, & disinterested friend I have ever had, so I go with you agt. the world, whether it respects men or things.
I have as I informed you I would do, sent Smith to France. Mr & Mrs Livingston took charge of him with much <illegible> I have as I informed you I would do, sent Smith to France. Mr & Mrs Livingston took charge of him with much <illegible> pleasure & will I doubt not do him justice. They went off in tolerable spirits although I fear from the demonstrations I witnessed that harmony may not be present between the Madam & the Captain till the end of the voyage. One thing is I think pretty certain, & that is that the good old man is in a <fair> way to spend his fortune. We have had Gov Hamilton here for some days, indeed he is still at Ballston but goes off soon I understand to return direct to S.C. by the Western road. Forsyth & myself stumbled upon him at Balston on your return from Nyork very unexpectedly as his passage through the Country has been so noiseless that we supposed him to be at Nyork. He looks badly &, is very low spirited and was not a little embarrassed, as I confess to you I was myself after his late conduct & particularly that which relates to yourself. When I see you I shall inform you of some conversation that took place that will amuse you. He said without reserve that he had done with public life & had made up his mind unchangeably to devote the rest of his time to his children. That two Districts had offered to send him to Congress, & that Miller did not desire to remain in the Senate, & that his friends would be willing to send him there. That he had declined all; & would on no account change his determination. We shall see. ^If he does it will the signal for disbandment amongst the nullifiers in S. Carolina^ I regret to hear that Mrs. Donelsons children have been unwell & hope they are better. Remember me affectionately to her & them, to Mrs & Mr Jackson, Mr and Mrs. Blair & to Genl Earle. I left Kendall in Nyork in high health & spirits occupying your rooms there in the style of a nobole.
I am Dr Sir
Very truly yours
M.VanBuren
P.S. The Major is with me & desires to be cordially remed to you & your Household.
Printed in CAJ, 5:159-160 (excerpt).