This letter will be handed you by Mr. Jessee Bledso⟨e⟩ who I do assure you is a Gentleman of considerable respectability & talents. The object of his trip is (in my estimation) important, both to the U. States & himself. I am told he is in possession of certain information of the spot where there is a most valuable lead mine in the Indiana territory. Two Gentlemen of the name of Gist, one of whom I personally know, have been at the spot. There information may be relied on. I have no doubt of the existance of the fact, and th⟨at⟩ those Gentlemen have been at the mine. Mr. Bledsoes object with the executive, is to obtain a licence to open and work the mine. In compliance with his request I have taken the liberty to introduce him to your acquaintance.

This Country is in a state of considerable f⟨   ⟩ present. The citizens appear to have lost conf⟨idence in⟩ each other; nor do we know who to trust, since ⟨the⟩ developement of, what has been called, the Spanish ⟨ques⟩tion. Those who formerly commanded the confiden⟨ce of⟩ the people, almost without limits, are now suspected an⟨d⟩ dispised. Nor do the people hesitate to charge some of the public functionaries with corruption and treasonab⟨le⟩ designs. This suspicion has attached itself to the federal Judge of this District. And it is now ⟨currently⟩ repor⟨ted that he⟩ will not hold his Office very long. Whether this Gentleman ⟨des⟩erves the charge or not I can not decide. Were I to decide ⟨fro⟩m his efforts to Judge impartially and justly be⟨t⟩ween the suitors in his Court, I should not hesitate to pronounce him innocent. Nor does he in any part of his conduct appear to be actuated by any motives, but those which arise from a laudable desire to do his duty

Should the obloquy which is now heaped upon this Gentleman by all parties, and which is enforced with all the malignance which a corrupt and ambitious faction is capable of, induce him to resign his Office; I shall, sir, feel myself highly flattered in receiving the appointment. The Executive have some little acquaintance with me; they can therefore form some Judgement of my fitness to fill the office. Nor should I hesitate to exchange my present station on the State Judiciary for the one, so honorably filled at present in the federal department by the present Judge.

I do ⟨not⟩ feel myself incorrect when I assur⟨e you that⟩ Gen. Adair, late a Senator in Congress from this State ⟨was⟩ at the time of his services in Congress, a confidenti⟨al⟩ ⟨   ⟩ agent of Col. Burr. I wish we may not have sent oth⟨er tr⟩aitors to Congress. It is reported in this town, that Col. Bu⟨rr ha⟩d a private interview with a member of Congress, on the morning that member started for the City. What was the result of that interview is not known. I mention this fact to place the Executive on their Guard My strong and uniform attachment to the Democratic party; and my great personal respect for the members who now compose the Executive departments, have rendered me particularly anxious for the success, honor & wellfare of the Executive. The duration of our freedom depends on you⟨r suc⟩cess.

Let me entreat your pardon, Sir, for thus o⟨btrud⟩ing upon you. The motives before discribed hav⟨e com⟩pelled me to say what I have, with an irristabl⟨e im⟩pulse.

Accept a tender of my high respect and should you believe I can serve you, let me beg you to command my efforts. I am Sir with real esteem yr. Obd. Servt.