from twenty-five to twenty-seven dollars per hundred.  Yet did Marshall maintain on the non-intercourse bill, that its price at other markets had never been affected by that law.  While the navigating and provision States, who are the majority, can keep open all the markets, or at least sufficient ones for their objects, the cries of the tobacco-makers, who are the minority, and not at all in favor, will hardly be listened to.  It is truly the fable of the monkey pulling the nuts out of the fire with the cat’s paw; and it shows that G. Mason’s proposition in the convention was wise, that on laws regulating commerce, two thirds of the votes should be requisite to pass them.  However, it would have been trampled under foot by a triumphant majority.

March 8.  My letter has lain by me till now, waiting Mr. Trist’s departure.  The question has been decided to-day on Livingston’s motion respecting Robbins; thirty-five for it, about sixty against it.  Livingston, Nicholas, and Gallatin distinguished themselves on one side, and J. Marshall greatly on the other.  Still it is believed they will not push Bayard’s motion of approbation.  We have this day also decided in:  Senate on the motion for overhauling the editor of the Aurora.  It was carried, as usual, by about two to one; H. Marshall voting of course with them, as did, and frequently does ------:  of ------ , who is perfectly at market.  It happens that the other party are so strong, that they do not think either him or ------ worth buying.  As the conveyance is confidential, I can say something on a subject which, to those who do not know my real dispositions respecting it, might seem indelicate.  The federalists begin to be very seriously alarmed about their election next fall.  Their speeches in private, as well as their public and private demeanor to me, indicate it strongly.  This seems to be the prospect.  Keep out Pennsylvania, Jersey, and New York, and the rest of the States are about equally divided; and in this estimate it is supposed that North Carolina and Maryland added together are equally divided.  Then the event depends on the three middle States before mentioned.  As to them, Pennsylvania passes no law for an election at the present session.  They confide that the next election gives a decided majority in the two houses when joined together.

McKean, therefore, intends to call the legislature to meet immediately after the new election, to appoint electors themselves.  Still you will be sensible there may arise a difficulty between the two Houses about voting by heads or by Houses.  The republican members here from Jersey are entirely confident that their two Houses, joined together, have a majority of republicans; their Council being republican by six or eight votes, and the lower House federal by only one or two; and they have no doubt the approaching election will be in favor of the republicans.  They appoint electors by the two Houses voting together.  In New York all depends on the success of the city