Do not for the world, my dear Sir, suffer my letter of Aug. 2d to get before the public, nor to go out of your own hands, or to be copied. I am always averse to the publication of my letters, because I wish to be at rest, retired, & unnoticed: but most especially this letter. I never meant to meddle in a Presidential election; and in a letter to a person in N. York written after the date of the one to you,1 I2 declared that I would take no part in the ensuing one, and permitted him to publish the letter. a thousand improprieties, indelicacies, & considerations of friendships, strongly felt by myself, forbid it. I am glad you did not name to me those to whom you had thought3 to give a copy; because, not knowing who they are,4 my unwillingness cannot be felt by any as proceeding from a want of personal confidence, but truly from the motives before stated. I hope the choice will fall on some real republican,5 who will continue the administration on the express principles of the constitution, unadulterated by constructions reducing it to a blank, to be filled6 with what every one pleases, and what never was intended. with this I shall be contented.