embarrassment, should it happen:  and in that case, I pray you and authorize you fully, to solicit on my behalf that Mr. Adams may be preferred.  He has always been my senior, from the commencement of our public life, and the expression of the public will being equal, this circumstance ought to give him the preference.  And when so many motives will be operating to induce some of the members to change their vote, the addition of my wish may have some effect to preponderate the scale.  I am really anxious to see the speech.  It must exhibit a very different picture of our foreign affairs from that presented in the adieu, or it will little correspond with my views of them.  I think they never wore so gloomy an aspect since the year 1783.  Let those come to the helm who think they can steer clear of the difficulties.  I have no confidence in myself for the undertaking.

We have had the severest weather ever known in November.  The thermometer was at twelve degrees here and in Goochland, and I suppose generally.  It arrested my buildings very suddenly, when eight days more would have completed my walls, and permitted us to cover in.  The drought is excessive.  From the middle of October to the middle of December, not rain enough to lay the dust.  A few days ago there fell a small rain, but the succeeding cold has probably prevented it from sprouting the grain sown during the drought.

Present me in friendly terms to Messrs. Giles, Venable, and Page.  Adieu affectionately.

LETTER CCI.—­TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE, December 27, 1796

TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE.

Monticello, December 27, 1796.

Mr Dear Sir,

*****

You have seen my name lately tacked to so much of eulogy and of abuse, that I dare say you hardly thought it meant your old acquaintance of ’76.  In truth, I did not know myself under the pens either of my friends or foes.  It is unfortunate for our peace that unmerited abuse wounds, while unmerited praise has not the power to heal.  These are hard wages for the services of all the active and healthy years of one’s life.  I had retired after five and twenty years of constant occupation in public affairs, and total abandonment of my own.  I retired much poorer than when I entered the public service, and desired nothing but rest and oblivion.  My name, however, was again brought forward, without concert or expectation on my part; (on my salvation I declare it.) I do not as yet know the result, as a matter of fact; for in my retired canton we have nothing later from Philadelphia than of the second week of this month.  Yet I have never one moment doubted the result I knew it was impossible Mr. Adams should lose a vote north of the Delaware, and that the free and moral agency of the south would furnish him an abundant supplement.  On principles of public respect I should not have refused; but I protest before my God that I shall, from the bottom of my heart,