24. Sep 1796. My dear Sir The address of the President I have seen from Annapolis — Though this important event has been familiarized by reflection to my mind, yet its actual happening affected me with a feeling something like [that produced by] an unlook'd for evil — It is an epocha in the affairs of America & will be a point for future dates to be graduated by — Venerable man — The effect of his piece has been immense here considering the tranquility [of] village understandings — The men who can think at all but acknowledge the force of his advice & maxims — Could this effect be rendered general his retiring might prove a new good to his Country as it has produced the public admiration of those important truths that are attached to the U.S. Truths which are felt with the strength of conviction & the warmth of enthusiasm because they are delivered by that man in the situation most affecting to his country & which I hope will produce a death [undecipherable] upon all — He may yet live to recall us all to their value perhaps in some day of distraction — This is the only consolation the publick mind can look at such a loss — [Forrest?] writes me that if [undecipherable] there is [undecipherable] M'A. will lose not more than two, it those — An elector [from?] Annapolis [undecipherable] me that a great many talk of M' [undecipherable] — A man just from the Delaware says they talk of three there. M'A. M'[undecipherable] & M'[undecipherable] — The [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] wants do here — But [undecipherable] [that?] M'A. was the man — If they divide the [undecipherable] the Gov't the State of [undecipherable] will again have a Presid't. On this subject I wrote lately to you — but have not had the pleasure of a line since that in W[hich?] you promised me the Talk to make up for silence. R.S. is out of our Senate. Gen'l [Ridgely?] in — & a M'G. [Cheslea?] — The Senate [are?] [undecipherable] We ought to [stand?] for Baltimore as Elector — a no. [Carroll?] is talked of who I know not. I am getting stout & hearty — M'M. [better?] & recovering [from?] [undecipherable] — lost a promising [son?] here of the complaint — inflammation of the brain — several die of it. I am affectionately my dear Sir [undecipherable].