After having spent fourteen years of my life in the service of my Country, and having had so distinguished a share in the establishment of our relations with the Emperor of Russia, I returned to the US, under a full conviction of enjoying, as I felt I deserved, the countenance & confidence of my Government at home, as I had done abroad. But I had not been long here before I was apprized by Mr. Adams, Secretary of State, that he was in possession of certain reports which implicated my Consular character, and which he made known to me, as he stated, with friendly dispositions towards me, and with a view of enabling me to afford such explanations on the subject as I might think proper.

To this Communication I immediately replied, and I have good reason to know, that the explanations furnished were, at the time, satisfactory to every body, except perhaps Mr Adams; who, since his return from Europe, has evinced on my subject, an inexorable & an unceasing ill will, and which his credit has been employed to extend even beyond the limits of his department.

A Young man of the name of Lewis, almost a stranger to me, brother to an American trader established at St Petersburg, arrived here last Autumn, & uttered, in the Shape of anonymous handbills, which he clandestinely and industriously circulated, both here and at Washington, a new edition of the self Same calumnies, which had been previously reported to me by Mr Adams.

I immediately instituted a Suit against this libeller, and to the astonishment of every body here, did it soon afterwards appear, that he was upon a footing of intimacy, and of friendly correspondence with the Secretary of State; and that an union of feeling and of action existed between them on this occasion!

A conduct so extraordinary, and at the same time so unworthy, necessarily excited in me and my friends, the livliest indignation. It was deemed expedient however to remain silent on this discovery. Mr Adams, in his active determination to defeat all my supposed views of further advancement in the diplomatic service, having been led into the wildest indiscretions, I was encouraged to wait the Slow but certain issue of events, and especially of the law, in the Suit I had just commenced.

It is now ascertained that it may be of importance to me to proceed to Russia in order to collect evidence necessary to this prosecution. I have therefore resolved, and have deemed it an imperious duty, to lose no further time in making you fully known to the conduct observed towards me in this conjuncture, and to leave you ignorant of nothing, either as to the merits of the occurrence itself, or the machinations of my Enemies.

You will witness in these disclosures, the manner in which the honor of the Executive Government has been committed, and how the man, whom you protected Sir, in early life, and whose acts, far from having dishonored your Administration, are full of evidences to the Contrary, has recently been treated by one, who owes, I have it in my power to prove, a no inconsiderable share of his present credit, to my successful efforts in the public service.

As I am hence exceedingly anxious to have as early an interview with you, as it may be agreeable to you to honor me with, I shall repair to Monticello the moment I am apprized of the time, that it will be Suitable to you to receive me.

Mr Madison having had, as you know, a like interest in the course of my public life, and feeling also I flatter myself some concern for my future welfare I have deemed it due to him to address him a letter of a corresponding tenor with the present.