[3 Dec^r 1799 to Geo. Washington.] [Private] Philad. 3 Dec^r 1799. I have rec^d your private letter of the 17th Ult^o ulto, since which I have been very closely engaged in [strikethrough: public] business. The inclosed news paper contains the Presidents Speech delivered to-day. You will find it nearly what it ought to be. I had feared he would have entered into reasoning upon a certain measure which would most absurdly [strikethrough: have] attracted to the [strikethrough: line] subject a very pointed [strikethrough: &] direct or indirect disapprobation from a part of the federalists. I am utterly unable and disqualified to give you the least information as to the ground or circumstances inducing to the letter written to Coxe. I can only consider it as the evidence [strikethrough: prepossessed] of a theory [strikethrough: embraced by] the authors or as a hasty [strikethrough: thoughtless] answer [strikethrough: insinuation:] to an invidious [strikethrough: interrogatary or insinuation of the foresaw letter to which it is an answer]. The author has never mentioned the fact to me and I have never [strikethrough: started the idea] [strikethrough: alluded] it to him. If I have leave [strikethrough: long] bring further it will not be kept from you. The President perseveres sir [strikethrough: discussing] receiving and treating the gentlemen specially alluded to with very much of [strikethrough: attention] and [strikethrough: all] other attentions and I think it [strikethrough: likely] will not take any step [strikethrough: of a disrespectful nature or] that might serve to [strikethrough: reduce] throw from him his present ministers. Yours truly & Affec^ty .. Geo Washington