Your favour of the 11th. was duly recd. I had noticed the stress laid in a late debate, on the proceedings of the Virga. Legislature in. 1798-9. as supporting the nullifying doctrine so called; and the frequent references also to my participation in those proceedings. But altho’ regretting the erroneous views taken of them, and making no secret of my opinions, I was unwilling to obtrude any public explanations, for reasons which may occur; for two more particularly. 1. that other errors, were occasionally observed, in other cases in which I was referred to as a party, or a witness, and an interposition in one case, might be thought to require it equally in others. 2. I could not be unaware that my voluntary appearance before the public, on such occasions, would produce adversary comments, obliging me either to surrender a good cause, or entangle myself in controversies against which my age was a warning. Before I recd. your letter I had been drawn by a request from a distinguished advocate of the nullifying doctrine and some others associated with it, into a sketch of my views of them; and feeling a like obligation to respect your wishes, I take the liberty of fulfilling it, in the way most convenient to myself, by inclosing a copy by a borrowed pen, of as much of that communication as will answer the purpose. I am sensible at the same time that there may be some awkwardness in this course, especially as I know not, as yet, the reception given to the communication, nor the degree in which the correspondence may be regarded as confidential. I will ask the favour of you therefore to let the present be so understood

I thank you Sir for the copy of Mr. Clayton’s Speech. It certainly places him au même ligne with others who have justly attracted the flattering notice of the Public. With great esteem & cordial salutations