I embrace the earliest opportunity which I have had since my arrival at this place, of performing a promise which I have never forgotten; it was to send you some nankeen cotton, being the growth of Carolina. Pray, do me the favor of accepting it.1 Perhaps the young ladies may manufacture some thing out of it, with the assistance of their spinning wheel; while taking advantage of the first approach of spring, you may give the seed a trial by sowing them. And should the seasons favor their visitation so, that you may be able to reap from them the smallest particle of cotton, it would afford me a singular satisfaction.

The business and pursuits of life, are so various and unexpected; that even probabilities cannot afford me a clue, by which I may be led to flatter myself when I may again wait upon your family at New York. But believe me Sir whenever it should happen, it will be with the most heart felt Satisfaction. Indeed, among my present enjoyments the remembrance of those hours wherein I have both received instruction and pleasure under your roof, present to me the most acceptable gratification.

Since my arrival here, it has been my fate to be holden up as a Representative of this State, to the opposing shifts of public opinion. However, conscious of my own integrity, and the purity & propriety of my conduct respecting which I am attacked; I stand firm in the full expectation that I, and those concerned with me, shall not only be justified in the eyes of the public; but that confusion shall fall upon those, who are the shameless actors in the business against me— The history of it, is this— In december last, at the meeting of the Legislature, a committee consisting of Coll. Anderson, Henry William De Saussure, John Rutledge Jur, Captn. Wm Butler, Myself, Timothy Ford, and James Green Hunt, were appointed to enquire into the truth of a report, that divers persons were recruiting troops in the bosom of the union, under foreign authority. And for the full execution of such appointment, were by resolve of the house vested with full powers to send for persons, papers, and records— In consequence of which, after due enquiry, we fully and particularly reported to the house, the truth of the suppositions: That Mr Genet, minister of France was the source of them; and that divers persons among whom was a cousin of mine (Stephen Drayton late secretary to our governor) were principal actors in the recruiting business, and were guilty of high crimes & misdemeanors, This report was unanimously agreed to by both branches of the Legislature; and was directed to be sent on by the Governor with other papers relating thereto, to the President of the United States; and the Governors of North Carolina, and Georgia.

As no time was to be lost in a matter of such importance, where secrecy and dispatch was necessary to crush this rising sedition, we, upon submitting affidavits of facts to the Judges of our State who were at Columbia, obtained bench warrants against the aggressors: by virtue of which, Stephen Drayton, and John Hamilton have been arrested; and will be tried at the next federal Court. We did more— We sent a special messenger cloathed with full powers from us, to search their papers: and to bring what might relate to the charges against them, to us, at Columbia. In consequence of which, we obtained a paper, which was referred to by almost all the affidavits; and which strengthens the truth against them, in a forcible light. In the performance of this last duty, the messenger was obliged after calling in a justice of the quorum, to break open Stephen Drayton’s locks, he refusing to deliver the Keys— This, has given rise to a publication of Stephen Drayton’s, against us, in which he particularly mentions our names, and charges us with trampling upon the rights of freemen. (I have endeavoured to obtain one of them for your perusal, but cannot). He has now done more. He has actually commenced a civil suit against De Saussure, Ford, Rutledge, & myself, for the amount of Sixty thousand dollars: and has also done the same by the other three gentlemen of the committee, who reside in the interior part of the State. I do myself the pleasure of enclosing you a copy of the writ, served upon us in Charleston: and I made no doubt supported by all the exertions & counsel of the french faction. It is astonishing, how much footing it has in this Country! Even our very Executive, is supposed not to be a little influenced by it. And while men of sense, and character, perceive the unhappy tendency of public conduct in this State, they can scarcely do more at present, than deplore the public misfortune.

One would imagine, that in so arduous a cause as this will be, in behalf of the Plaintiff; when he opposes himself to the act of our collected legislature; (for what we have done, has been approved by it): that it would have been brought forward by Counsel of the must unblemished characters, and firmest integrity. But, how different is the Case? Their champion is Mr Alexander Moulton; the late Attorney general of our State— who for gross misbehaviour in office was impeached before the Senate, in december last, convicted, and disqualified from holding any office under the State for the term of Seven Years!— How well, does this passage of Cicero here apply “Cognosce ex me, quoniam hoc primum tempus discendi nactus es, quam multa esse oporteat in es, qui alterem accuset: ex quibus, si unum aliquod in te cognoveris, ego jum tibi ipse istuc, quod expetis, mea voluntate concedam. Premium integretatem; utque innocentiam singularem; nihil est enim quod minus ferendum sit, quam rationem ab altero vita reposcere eum, qui non possit suae reddere![”]2 Besides, upon another account it comes with a worse grace from him, than from any other man: as Col. Anderson, Mr DeSaussure, Mr Hunt, and myself, were managers appointed by the house of Representatives, who conducted the prosecution against him.3

While it gives me pain that any one of the name which I bear, should have acted thus unworthy of his station, as an American citizen: I enjoy a pleasure in reflecting that there have not been wanting others of the same family, who have not shrunk from their duty in subjecting him to punishment: and thus I hope, averting the fall of any imputation upon a family’s principles, on his account.

Permit me to request, that my respectful remembrance may be presented to Mrs. Jay, your son, and the young ladies: and beleive me My Dear Sir with the most unfeigned sincerity to be respectfully, and affectionately Your most Obedient and Very humble Servant.