Baltimore 12 Jany 1801. [My] dear Sir. I received your letter of the 4^th inst on Saturday last. After giving as much [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] it appeared to me that the [only?] proper line for the federal party to pursue in the case, was, [undecipherable] to acquiesce with a good grace in the election of M^r Jefferson, or if they made any [undecipherable] of opposition, [undecipherable] to draw [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: desisting from] [undecipherable] that you M^r Jeff[erso]n, [undecipherable] support existing systems and the policy of [Gen^t] Washington's administration as it [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] attempt to create [a new?] President. I wrote to some of my friends in Congress, at length, accordingly and am extremely happy to find my opinions corroborated by [yours?]. I went [further?] as a reason to [show?] the probable and probable consequences of a different course, particularly if any [persons?] attempt to [create?] a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] character we do not [think?] [it?] difficulty Yours truly &c[?] [undecipherable] Hamilton J^r [undecipherable] I can [find?] no [answer?] to [your?] letter from the City. I would write you more fully but for the pain caused by the motion in my left hand the event of which has been distressing a few days ago [endorsed: [undecipherable] January 1801 [undecipherable] Hamilton] [docket: 103/[21?] Col[?]]