Your Letter of the 2d Instant ^by Mr. Isaacs^1 gave me great pleasure, and the more as it permits ^leads me to^ me to indulge the ^leads me to^ Expectation ^that^ of seeing you here, when some ^a^ favorable opportunity shall offer—

I apprehend that several of your Remarks relative to public affairs are too well founded, and it is natural that they shd. be so— The operations of certain Principles and Passions, are very much ^nearly^ alike in all ^ages &^ Countries & the ages ancients had neither the Benefits nor the abuses ^of our Religion or of^ of the Press, but when under Circumstances in other Respects similar to ^resembling^ ours, they acted very much as we do. Every modification of Sovereignty has its Inconveniences— there is a better & a worse but no perfection very ^in them all; and no^ other than a relative Perfection in any of them. That ours might be rendered less imperfect, this is obvious is more easy to prove than to accomplish. It is true that when the measure of Confusion was over, order usually follows; but it is far from certain that the order so produced would ^be^ such as would ^as to^ ^not always such^ order ^as wd.^ please either you or me.

The vices and violences of Parties and Factions, and the Corruptions which they generate & cherish, are serious Evils— but they are Evils very difficult to correct ^which^ during the full Tide of Democracy, mere Reason will find it difficult to correct, because the majority of all ^Every^ People and large Societies are deficient both in Virtue and in Knowledge. All Parties have their Demagogues, and Demagogues never were nor will be Patriots—Self Interest prompts ^excites^ and directs all their Talents and Industry; and [illegible] that by that Principle they regulate their Friendships & Hostilities ^conduct towards^ Men and to Measures— nor is this all— They not only act improperly themselves, but they diligently strive to mislead the weak the Ignorant and the unwary— as to the corrupt they like to have it so— it makes a good market for them.

Powers in national[?] Govt. are more frequently imposed by overbearing Circumstances, than produced by [illegible] ^the Influence of wisdom on the opinion & Choices of the multitude^ The admn. of every Govt. will be always be able virtuous & salutary, or otherwise, according to the Characters of those to whom it may be committed— The Rulers in democratic Republics are generally Men of more Talents than morals— There can be but little connection between Cunning and Virtue, and therefore, (except now and then in particular Instances) our affairs will commonly be managed by political Intrigues, calculated upon that “auri Fames”2 which ^from obvious Causes^ rages in this Country.

New Men new objects and new Designs will successively arise and have their Day; but whether for Good or for Evil, we know not. At present Democracy prevails too much— I wait The Time may be distant ^come^ when it will prevail too little. The human Passions ^naturally^ vibrate between Extremes, passing & repassing, but seldom stopping at, the middle point

Things are as they are, and we must make the best of them, As Travellers do or ought to do in a Journey, well knowing that ^that in the Course of a long Journey^ they cannot expect to have no other than ^every Day^ fine weather, good Inns, good Roads, and good Company— Nothing remains for us my good Friend! but to do our Duty to our Country with prudent & unabated Zeal— to enjoy with Gratitude and Chearfulness the Good we have, and to bear with Decency and Dignity the Ills wh we can neither not avert nor remove.

What may be our Duty, will depend on the Circumstances of the Day—Those of the present Day, appear to me a little singular in some Respects—

As to the ensuing Election ^for Govr^ a Fœderal Candidate shd. in my opinion have been named—-and If that was ^had been^ deemed inexpedient, the Fœderal Party shd. I think have adopted an unequivocal plain Line of Conduct relative to the present Candidates— explicitly deciding to vote for neither of them, or openly Resolving to support the one whom they considered as the least objectionable.3 In what State this Election will leave us ^and^ place our Party, I is difficult to conjecture [illegible] for altho’ [illegible] advantages will result from it, yet ^“Timeo^ Dona fetentes”4— [illegible] With great Esteem & Regard I am Dr Sr Your obt Servt.