New York 9^th April 1788 I have hitherto deferred my [undecipherable: design] answering your esteemed favor of the 29^th of February in [undecipherable: hopes] of being able to give you a satisfactory Statement of public affairs But the unfortunate check the new constitution received in New Hampshire has given new [undecipherable: ferment] to the [undecipherable: spirits] of the opponents of the [undecipherable: proposed] system. and dampen the zeal of its friends. The Convention in South Carolina is to meet on the 12^th of next month — the general tenor of the information is that it will be adopted there but not without considerable opposition — North Carolina is not to meet until July — The general opinion seems to be that they will follow the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] meets in June — The constitution in that [undecipherable: State] will meet with great opposition indeed, and the issue extremely doubtful — As far as information has been received of the elections which have [undecipherable] in March, the complexion is [undecipherable]. The arguments against it [undecipherable] are [undecipherable], [undecipherable] although many [undecipherable: plausible] [undecipherable] appear — [undecipherable] by [undecipherable] have commenced [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] thereby [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] debts will be the real [undecipherable] of the great fund of [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] some thus apprehend a consolidation of the Union as [undecipherable] real [undecipherable] In Maryland it is [undecipherable] is probable according to the information received, that the Constitution will be adopted. Nine [undecipherable] [undecipherable] majority will meet the last of this month — In the State of New York the [undecipherable] pro and con are so [undecipherable] that it is impossible for an impartial person to say on which side the scale now turns — both sides appear confident of victory in [undecipherable] both sides are [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] for the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] meet [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] — The [undecipherable: Rhode] [undecipherable: Island] people are [undecipherable] to their [undecipherable] of paper money and darkness — they [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the New [undecipherable] Constitution I am happy that you have [undecipherable] confidence in the future conduct of your [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] in God you [undecipherable] not be disappointed The business of [undecipherable] now [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] cannot [undecipherable] who will be the president [undecipherable] [undecipherable]