Yesterday afternoon I returned from WestChester County where I have been attending the County Court for the whole week— Upon my return I found the election in a more favorable state than any of us expected. In the Southern District Clinton led you only 138, which was owing to a majority of one hundred & thirty odd you had in this City, and a majority of near 500 which West Chester County yielded you. In Orange County Clinton had a majority of between 4 & 500 & the Canvassers are now in Dutchess County which thus far has given you a majority of one sixty odd. In this County the votes of two towns remain to be canvassed, but they are not very important towns & the one favorable to you & the other against you— The probability is that you will have a majority of about 200 in Dutchess. Ulster, Columbia &c & so upwards are yet uncanvassed— I do not see that it is possible that Clinton when he arrives at Columbia will have a majority of more than 600. If the Otsego votes be canvassed we have not a doubt—not even the smallest one—that the election will be ours— What will be the fate of these votes is a question which no human understanding can yet determine— Brockholst and his vertuous colleagues are stuffing the news papers with dissertations upon the subject—1 Mr. Harison on our side has written a very ample & able refutation of all the arguments urged in these dissertations and the refutation will appear in tomorrow’s paper.2 When I wrote you on Sunday last I informed you that I had received the opinion of Mr. Lewis of Philadelphia upon a very particular state of the case transmitted by me and Mr. Hoffman.3 This opinion is favorable to an extreme— Since receiving this opinion we have also obtained one from Mr. Lush of Albany who has been altogether inactive in the election & whose wishes are supposed to be with Clinton— This opinion is also decided that the Sheriff de facto was the proper returning officer—4 I can find no opinions against us but those of Brockholst—Ned—the Chancellor—Clinton &c—

Mr. Jones is inclined to believe that the Otsego votes will not be rejected, but he is like the rest of us tortured with serious apprehensions. The old gentleman is of the last importance to us upon the canvass— He has hitherto discharged his trust with great ability and integrity—5 If the Otsego votes be rejected we think there will notwithstanding be a good chance of your success— In this case the event will be extremely critical—

Brockholst has almost turned Bedlamite— Since the canvass began he has fought a battle royal with a Mr. Durie—a merchant in town who is very zealously attached to your interest—6 Besides this proof of neutrality which Brockholst affects he has been very constant in his attendance upon the canvassers & has never failed upon all questions which arose in the course of the canvass to converse with Melancton Smith—Tillotson &c7 and officiously give his advice—

Upon the whole we are all in high spirits & what tends to make the prospect of your election the more agreeable is—the probability that the Legislature will consist of a majority of your friends— The election of assemblymen & senators as far as the event is known to us has pretty generally proved favorable to our wishes.8

I have no further accounts from Dr. Ramsay.

As I understand there will be no Circuit held in Vermont this is the last letter I shall write to you— The one I wrote on Sunday last was directed to you at Portsmouth.9 With every sentiment of esteem & affection I am, My dear Sir, Your friend,