I have lately received your obliging letter of the 16 of June1 which confirms the accounts brought by Mr Gore,2 as well as those derived from less authentic sources, respecting the increased & mutual exasperation of parties among us: that the return of the presidential Election; should in our present circumstances give fresh activity to the Partizans of the respective Candidates was naturally to have been expected; prudent men not only foresaw, but acquiesced in this periodical agitation of the Country, as an Evil, if it be one, inseperable from the freedom we enjoy in the exemption from the rule of a particular family ordained to govern us:— but that the canvass should so prematurely be conducted with an intemperance that does not belong to our character, and this too at a time, when the malignity of Parties in Europe is abating, and good men begin to entertain hopes that it will ere long give place to former moderation & good humour, is a calamity that cannot be too deeply deplored, whether we regard it, in reference to our own tranquillity, or to our Children’s prospect of happiness, or as affecting the form of Government we have chosen, & the failure of which in our hands will not only bring discredit upon us, but give an undeserved triumph to its uncandid opponents on this side of the Atlantic. I however receive consolation from the persuasion, that tho depreciated of late, by causes, that it is perhaps easier to discover, than to correct, there still remain among our people sufficient steadiness and discretion, and I am willing to believe, enough of moral & political virtue to save us from violence, & anarchy—

It is difficult to form an adequate notion of the present situation of Europe, and more so, of the changes it may experience before the close of the year. Expectations firmly, and it seemed rationally entertained six months ago have been entirely disappointed, and France instead of remaining confined within her own limits, and dependent upon her proper resources, having broken into the neighbouring Countries, now subsists her powerful armies upon the territories, and by the Contributions of her Enemies. The Effect of these processes has been considerable upon the Opinion of this Country, and ^they^ will discourage and weaken the Effort, so often repeted, to curb the Power, or change the prevailing Principles of France—A recent convention restrains Austria for the present, from negotiating unless in concert with England; but should England manifest a backwardness to treat, Austria may be obliged to conclude a separate Peace as the only means to save vienna. The maritime treatment recd. from England by Sweden and Denmark has alienated the good will of those powers, and thoh there seems to be no Evidence, that a league has yet been formed between them, Russia & Prussia, for the Purpose of restraining the unreasonable maritime Claims of England, yet the known Dissatisfaction of these powers must operate to discourage rather than promote the further prosecution of the war, and upon the whole the probability of a precise negotiation for a general peace seems to be greater than at any antecedent period— Much will depend upon the situation & Views of France; if her chief is as great as his admirers represent him to be, he will prove his magnanimity in the moderation of his Demands; and should he do so, the allies will not be able to refuse them— a different course, which notwithstanding the apparent stability of the last reform, the personal safety and continuance in power of the french Leaders may require, will enable England to continue the war another year, which may bring about new changes, as well as the repetition of the Scenes, that have proved so pernicious to the repose of every Quarter of the Earth— with real Esteem & Respect I am Dr Sir yr. ob. & faithful Set.,