Dear Sir,

Yours of January the 4th was received last night.  I had then no opportunity of communicating to you confidentially information of the state of opinions here; but I learn to-night that two Mr. Randolphs will set out to-morrow morning for Richmond.  If I can get this into their hands I shall send it; otherwise it may wait longer.  On the subject of an election by a general ticket or by districts, most persons here seem to have made up their minds.  All agree that an election by districts wrould be best, if it could be general:  but while ten States choose either by their legislatures or by a general ticket, it is folly and worse than folly for the other six not to do it.  In these ten States the minority is certainly unrepresented; and their majorities not only have the weight of their whole State in their scale, but have the benefit of so much of our minorities as can succeed at a district election.  This is, in fact, insuring to our minorities the appointment of the government.  To state it in another form; it is merely a question, whether we will divide the United States into sixteen or one hundred and thirty-seven districts.  The latter being more chequered, and representing the people in smaller sections, would be more likely to be an exact representation of their diversified sentiments.  But a representation of a part by great, and a part by small sections, would give a result very different from what would be the sentiment of the whole people of the United States, were they assembled together.  I have to-day had a conversation with ------ who has taken a flying trip here from New York.  He says, they have really now a majority of the House of Representatives, but, for want of some skilful person to rally round, they are disjointed, and will lose every question.  In the senate there is a majority of eight or nine against us.  But in the new election which is to come on in April, three or four in the Senate will be changed in our favor; and in the House of Representatives the county elections will still be better than the last:  but still all will depend on the city election, which is of twelve members.  At present there would be no doubt of our carrying our ticket there; nor does there seem to be time for any events arising to change that disposition.  There is therefore the best prospect possible of a great and decided majority on a joint vote of the two Houses.  They are so confident of this, that the republican party there will not consent to elect either by districts or a general ticket.  They choose to do it by their legislature.  I am told the republicans of New Jersey are equally confident, and equally anxious against an election either by districts or a general ticket.  The contest in this State will end in a separation of the present legislature without passing any election law (and their former one has expired), and in depending on the new one, which will be elected October the 14th, in which the republican majority