[James McHenry Esq^r. Philadelphia Secretary of War. Decr 7. 1797] Annapolis Decemr 7^th 1797 Dear Sir we have been in Session about three weeks and you know that Mr Henry was elected Governor by [undecipherable: which] a vacancy became in the Senate of the united Stat. from this State, and yesterday was the election, its [undecipherable: completion] and manners [undecipherable] such as are highly interesting and will shew the state of parties with us. several gentlemen of the eastern shore were talked of to [undecipherable] M^r Col: Hindman, [undecipherable] he some refused others were [undecipherable] had not bottom but still the parties [undecipherable] by degree. Government party against the Democratic party till at [undecipherable] the house of Delegates but James Lloyd William Winder and Joshua Jones in nomination I really must [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] about [undecipherable] was best between ourselves [undecipherable] Winder knowing Lloyd [undecipherable] &c &a however an indiscretion of Governor Henry [undecipherable] the business and won the election the other day in a circle of Delegates, he began to deplore the rising English influence in this Country [undecipherable] and that all good Patriots ought to [undecipherable] about M^r Jefferson as the only man who could [undecipherable] us [undecipherable] stop the torrent of English influence; you cannot [undecipherable] imagine how [undecipherable] friends to Government were alarmed and drove to a corner and were [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] election the first vote Lloyd had 40 votes Winder 27 [undecipherable] 22 votes. [undecipherable] Henry was with-drawn. and on the second vote. Lloyd had 45 and Winder 44 votes and Lloyd is the Senator. I am this minute with you as I know your acquaintance with M^r Winder, but remember that it is time to know how men are and a stop must be put to this [undecipherable] of [underline: holy Insurrection] M^r Henry who I highly respect. has [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I for [undecipherable] this language— This information is under the Rose I am your most ob^t David McMechen [undecipherable]