[4 Dec. 1796 [undecipherable] — docketed on left margin] The Honorable James a Mc: Henry [undecipherable] Secretary of War Philadelphia [undecipherable] 4 My dear Sir: I thank you for [underline: to] [the] Aurora [underline: be] — my absence prevents Me from any [knowledge?]; [Calumnies?] of [undecipherable] [my?] [administration?] always am to [Right?] Law, reporters, [what?] Administration, and Appeal to [the?] [people?]. I think it [is?] [true?] ought to be indeed for [all?] [those?] [undecipherable] [bare?] [underline: Libel] on our government. [apart?] [there?] is the Support of Liberty and a Republicanism for[?]: but [abominations?] just [as?] the [laws?] freedom, and [the?] [Rest?] of Society, and will do more to destroy real liberty than any other Instrument in the Hands of knaves & fools. — I see no Difference between [the?] [former?] and Adm[?]. [forth?] Opinion of our [tyrant?] and Adm[?]. [forth?] Opinion of our Legislature, I [open?] [you?] to the Resolution of both Houses for [perpetuating?] to the presidents Address, [best?] more particularly to [the?] [joint?] answer of [both?] [Houses?] [delegates?] to [the?] [governor's?] address which I [describe?] [you?]. — You may in [ofend?] this is [but?] [our?] opinion in Maryland out of this Town. — I [believe?] [the?] [list?] of [Electors?] of [Representatives?] and [our?] [president?] from [the?] State will be as follows. For Adams For Jefferson Lyon [Golpen?] [Murdoch?] [Austen?] [Deakins?] [Tunall?] 3 [Done?] [Plata?] [Roberts?] [Carleton?] 6 Plater. These then will [be?] [undecipherable] to three and one for both. There is already in our Senate [to?] [be?] appointed of [undecipherable] [Standard?] [Colotrets?] of United States. M[r?] [Rob?]. Smith will be [placed?] by his friends. I believe Col. [Forrest?] will resign [Middle?] [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable]. A letter from You came [to?] my [House?] last [Wash?] [undecipherable] was out to [Annapolis?] but was [named?] in the post office. [Have?] out for it. You [never?] [have?] as yet [written?] [seen?] Your [undecipherable] [Saml. Chase?]