Slander is such a common position of all men in office, that I did not think it necessary to trouble you with a denial of a charge which Mr Foster sometime since informed me had been alledged against me, and should not do it at this time, had I not just now written a defence of Col Peck—Mr. Foster stated, that some person had said in your hearing, that I had published a letter I had received respecting the Senators from this State, & the trial between Govr. Fenner & Judge Dorrance. The letter appeared in a paper in this Town;—The writer & receiver were both well known & publicly talked of; and most certain it is, that I had no concern with it directly or indirectly—I never saw or heard of it till it appeared in the paper—

The zeal of the political parties in this State is now very warm. The division which commenced in the election of Mr. Fenner as Senator, is still kept up, and there is no prospect of a reconciliation—Each party has proposed a Candidate for Governor Mr. Fenner & Mr Taber—and they are so equally divided, that if the Federalists propose a third there will be no choice by the people.

Mr. Foster is now in the most perfect retirement, on a small farm, in this State. I sincerely wish he was better provided for—he has integrity & industry, which might make him more useful than he is at present He left profitable private business to serve the public, and is now entirely neglected—He has attempted to resume the business of his profession, but it is too late—It has gone into other hands.

With Sentiments of high Respect I am Your Obedient Servt