27. Jan/96. Phil. p 165 Dear Sir, Today the Senate, I hear unanimously, concurred in the Presidents nomination of you as Secretary of War — I know not whether the President had previously obtained your consent — This however I can assure you of that he is exceedingly desirous that you should come into the Administration — Many names pretty high in military rank, and some in that of Talent too, were in view, & yours among them — You will I know not misconstrue me when I venture to urge you [strikethrough: to] cept — I do think upon my honour that you will consult your own glory in accepting this tribute of confidence from the [undecipherable] of your [undecipherable], after an intimate knowledge of you for so many years, part of which time, the most trying too, was past in the [undecipherable] — Till the Presidents administration [undecipherable]. He has always had [undecipherable] of his old [undecipherable] — with him — I think by still wishing — I have had old [undecipherable] on his mind — [undecipherable], and, extremely a habit — grows out of time, that no sudden confi[undecipherable] & merited comes up to, as it respects the affe[undecipherable] — [undecipherable] Hamilton's days he has not had one of his old se[undecipherable] [undecipherable] Two gentlemen, confidentially, those men of honour and capacity, and of clear judgement and [undecipherable] improvable minds, are without your inferiors as cabinet ministers — That a that only the Presid. would weaken them, Hamilton's [undecipherable] one own [undecipherable] and general knowledge of men & would make them show their point for each has thought & vigour of mind. The most disreputable part of official business — the War Department is infinitely [undecipherable] by the present & prosperous state of affairs — and get such is the Political tickleness of things That a steady policy on the [undecipherable] side be essential for there a few years — Cabinet business is conducted by the three conjointly — for instance Rand[olph] was directed by the P. to address the B[ritish] mini[ster] & [undecipherable] — at the promise of doing — [undecipherable] to lay it but the other heads of Departments & the attorney Gen'd — d they thought it too fiery & hostile for that distation of our negotiations [undecipherable] and thin consent — You have this consolation, it it ought to be a great one to you, certain I am it will be so to you — boys when they grow up, a Washington shall be yours, that your nomination was the Presidents own act — all the [undecipherable] al conception of it entirely his own — after he has determined his [undecipherable] for many, I [undecipherable] it over to him if I thought you would accept — I [undecipherable] to him that though you found your own him — [undecipherable] underneath began I firmly believed that your affec[undecipherable] [undecipherable] past for him [undecipherable] wishes to the fed. Gov't. would supersede every thing [undecipherable] & that you would — He then talked a great deal about [undecipherable] drew the whole I am convinced he felt no common emotion about [undecipherable] with the nomination. Depend on this, that sooner long [undecipherable] & the public men must accept these high offices or the gov't. divided to [undecipherable] proportion — and which duty is there [undecipherable] to acquit upon does not demand some sacrifice of [undecipherable] determined pleasures of life & of personal quiet. Vanity [undecipherable] I know [undecipherable] will always supply candidates enough — I know that is that [undecipherable] to be the reason why such candidates should not be accepted —. Education is have at your doors. M^r M'Henry wants to be [undecipherable] in action upon a plan — as to the [undecipherable] (tho' it will, be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the most [undecipherable]) it will maintain good in that easy, [undecipherable] eloquent but quiet recommendation S. I think you love — [undecipherable] with M^r M'[undecipherable] — [undecipherable] — The front line in Fourth [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at the corner of [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] house of two rooms, on inside, a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] added I think the [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] — This is any worthy man & most equal to his duty — the [undecipherable] of the most modest & most amiable [undecipherable] of that most excellent [undecipherable], kind but circumstanced — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and there [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in [undecipherable], induction [undecipherable] will inform [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] day [undecipherable] in a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Department — They are little [undecipherable] I have seen him at his most — [undecipherable] written he lives easily but quietly — Both these men are practicable men to deal with to work with — without humour or caprice a perfectly amicable — I think to [undecipherable] us proven to you as associates in business. Another reason for your accepting — you are known as an officer connected [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] during the war — as a m[undecipherable] of our Senate, a member of the [undecipherable] Congress — a member of the Convention — at present a Senator — These intrinsic circumstances become intrinsic [undecipherable] — as do men; they enable a man to do what is right in his own opinion — This is a character? [undecipherable] intrinsically great S[undecipherable] has been but just [undecipherable] [undecipherable] always do — Besides you will be gratify'd with that literary treasure S^r. though certainly not full — is here more copious than in Baltimore — & you enjoy that intercourse of mind with Ham[il]ton S^r. am most [undecipherable] have been a source of consolation. So: [undecipherable] charged in the city Not a man many be retired if he be pleas'd — In fact my dear S^r. if you review your & best friends you be[undecipherable] at that [undecipherable] Interest of [undecipherable], are called on in the most [undecipherable] way to support — & you will obey the call. [underline: at all events come up here!] — if it be only for three days. I have been confined to my room since [undecipherable] days [undecipherable] an inflamation in my jaw that keeps me literally & hides my face. S. Smith's motion will be on next monday — They work — at such a [undecipherable] — to make such a motion! — If the President controlled you — you will laugh at all this — if he did not — be contented to be Secretary of [undecipherable] of the most flourishing & free people on earth — [undecipherable] been [undecipherable] sincerely [undecipherable]