The total ruin in which my private fortune is involved, and my inability for1 want of Capital to pursue any probable means of support for my family induced me to give my Consent to become a Candidate for the Speakers Chair—The Views of N. Carolina who first mentioned the subject to me were bottomed on the Idea, that it would be unwise for the South to irritate the East by the Choice of a Speaker south of Potomack, and equally unwise to take a Speaker from among those who were active in favor of the Missouri question. they, therefore thought it advisable to fix on me, as from a State not obnoxious to either great division,—The Southern Candidate will be Mr Nelson, the Eastern Mr Taylor of N. York,—the division of the Southern Votes between Mr Nelson and me may give Mr Taylor a majority on the first Vote. if my number should be such as to induce my friends to withdraw my name the Contest will thus be between Mr Nelson and Mr Taylor, and will probably be in favor of the latter. it will thus be determined by Votes founded on the Missouri question.—If however the Contest should be between Mr Taylor and me, and if I should be supported by Virginia there would be little doubt of my succeeding.—I know not any person who Could influence Mr Nelson, and I doubt much whether any ought to make the attempt, if any person could I presume Mr Madison might—I fear the Contest for Speaker between East and South will Call up the unpleasant question of Slavery and no Slavery again.

I have been a sincere supporter of the present Administration, because I have thought little wrong had been done, and because I thought the President meant to do right—Some expenditures had been commenced proper in themselves, but not Convenient in the present State of our Affairs—I believe they are postponed for a time when our finances will be in a better State

I have thought (perhaps vainly) that I Could render essential service in Spain. that nation was our best Customer formerly for flour, until it imposed a prohibitory duty.—To induce its removal will require more commercial knowledge than is usually sent on foreign missions—I know that Merchants have Scarcely2 ever been sent by any nation to the Courts of Europe, but may not this be one of the prejudices of the World, if So—ought we not to be superior to them,—I however think it highly probable that the new Order of things in Spain may induce the President to continue Mr Forsyth. I have the honor to be

with the sincerest attachment