[28 [undecipherable] 1796 Hugh Williamson] [Addressed: Hon^ble James M^cHenry Sec at War Philadelphia] New york 20^th Oct^r 1796 Dear Sir Yesterday I returned from the Eastern States having been about [undecipherable] miles bey[ond] Boston. Nothing was talked of fo[r] [undecipherable] Weeks ago but the measures of placing federal members in the [Room?] of those who [undecipherable: probable reading "voted"] against supporting the Treaty. The New Englanders seem on this head to be as nearly unanimous. Who is to be our next President has been the universal Question ever since the President's Resolution was published of not serving again. I have uniformly ventured to predict & have been ready to support my Opinion on the true English made by a bet— that John Adams will [undecipherable] poll on Jefferson as 7 to 5 nearly and that he will be chosen by the Electors. [strikethrough: The] Great Pleasure has been expressed by many People on having so clear a [undecipherable] a prediction, and they have given as a Reason for the Pleasure they felt that they conceived that my very [undecipherable] acquaintance through the Country gave me good means of forming a well founded Opinion. But there are People who think different from me on the head of Majorities. Col. Burr was in Boston when I left it & his Informants [undecipherable] had induced him to conclude that the votes would be nearly equal— and yet we both converse with the World. How is it that from the same Informant we draw different Conclusions? I have just heard of a sharp Dispute between Greenleaf and Nicholson but what is doing in Phil^a? or in the Seat of American Gov^t? I have heard as little as concerning the Gov^t of Persia. I have also heard of and seen the [undecipherable] Address. I am D^r Sir with great Respect H^u Williamson [Hon^ble J^s M^cHenry]