Balt^e 18 Apr^l 1798 [undecipherable] My dear friend, My Engagement in our County Court which has been in Session three weeks by a bad State of health has prevented my hitherto acknowledging the receipt of the Communications you were so kind as to enclose on — to communicate the politics of this place. Yesterday we had a numerous meeting at the Court House on the interesting situation of our affairs, and certain resolutions were adopted — approbatory of our Government which you will see in the Papers. Certain [strikethrough: undecipherable], otherwise trivial than at this source to teach us prudence and a cautious avoidance of the declarations of [strikethrough: pretended] reformed politicians, mark so strongly the views of a party here that I think it my duty to communicate them to you — It happened that I was selected to open the objects of meeting which I did by a brief Statement of the outrages committed on this Country by France, and a recital of the fate of the Neutral States, who had reposed confidence in them, and calling on each individual to declare, if any there was, his dissatisfaction at the resolution proposed. No opposition appeared — But at one of the name or immediate Connections of J. Smith attended — One of their party (Here J. A. Buchanan) asked tauntingly, Was there any complaint of British orders? The answer was no — The immediate observation in reply was It is an electioneering mode, & has no other motive than to turn [undecipherable] out of Congress. — This I have learned this Evening — They dare not face us — But they keep alive the spirit of the party in favor of France, tho they are ashamed to avow it — They had rather sacrifice their Country, its honor & national character, than their individual popularity — This connected with a circumstance which occurred while I was at Annapolis during the last Session of Assembly, attending the of House as Counsel for the [undecipherable] satisfies me that there is a party here, however they may endeavor to conceal their real views, by hypocritical professions who ardently wish a connection with France of the nearest kind. You know I am considered rather democratic, and under this impression Gov. Henry unbosomed himself to me as dinner at [undecipherable] thus, — "depend upon it, Sir, there is a British influence in this Country — I have seen it — yet in this room — Mr. Jefferson is the only point to look up to resist it — He is "the only means to prevent its overwhelming us as a torrent — When I saw the British Treaty I did not think it could be possible I could have ever been brought to vote for it — But the conduct of the late Executive left us no alternative but to adopt it, or go to war. — Necessity therefore compelled [undecipherable] to it." — This conversation became public & the event was Mr. Winder's defeat & Gen. [undecipherable]'s election — I cannot help connecting the observation on our Town Meeting, "Was there any complaint of British orders", with Mr. Henry's declaration "That British influence was about to overwhelm us and that they will not openly shew at this time their predilection for France, the will discover it in the first calamitous event which may happen to our Country, Depend on it they are not to be trusted. I speak of the party here. I have just had a meeting with Col. Swan, [undecipherable], [undecipherable], Mr. Hollingsworth on the Subject of an address to the Government, which we have agreed on conformably to the Town Resolutions, adding our willingness to submit to encreased taxes, and praying that consideration of expences may not be [undecipherable] put in Competition with the Important rights now at stake. — The facts I have stated relative to Gov. Henry may be stated in any way in which they may be serviceable — for time turned hypocrites. — Yours most Sincerely [signature: J Winchester] [18 April 1798 / J. Winchester / Politics]