I have just closed a very laborious autumnal circuit, in the course of which many highly important questions have been decided— I would send you an abstract of them, if I could command leisure just now; but my whole attention is directed to affairs connected with my departure for Washington— I shall however either bring the original opinions with me; or an abstract per your use.

I have also prepared opinions in the Glebe cases of Alexandria, & of Vermont, which you may remember were committed to me at the last February term— Whether my brethren will coincide with me in these opinions is more than I can presume even to conjecture— But I can truly say that I have scarcely met with more embarassing causes, causes which have engaged me in more extensive, antient & difficult research, sometimes after considerable labour wholly fruitless research. The opinions which I have formed are however entirely satisfactory to my own mind. I am now very clear that the Complainants are entitled to sustain their bill in equity in the cause from Alexandria; & I am for affirming the decree of the Circuit Court in substance— The opinion in this case is quite long, or I would send you a copy— I shall however wish your revision of it when we meet at W. although you do not sit in the cause, because it is so desireable in so importan<t> a question to have a distinct legal judgment— In my view of the case it has been impracticable to avoid a collision with the acts of Virginia— I have felt myself obliged to hold that in so far as these acts devested in the Church lands, they are not constitutional & cannot be supported— The only point as to which I felt a doubt at the last term, has been entirely removed by an attentive examination in the wording of the bill.

It was not until last week that I had the pleasure to read your opinion as to the unconstitutionality¹ of the insolvent act of Pennsylvania— In my judgment that opinion is actively correct and founded upon the most solid & incontrovertible reasoning— The same question will go from Rhode Island to the next Supreme Court:² & as the District Judge & myself differed, we concluded to give judgt against the Plf, who stated his intention to revise the cause in the appellate court; & I distinctly stated that my opinion was in his favour.

I wish that I could write you any thing favourable as to the state of our common country, or the feelings & views of the people of New England– There can be no reasonable doubt that a dissolution of the union is very probable. Such is the unhappy delusion here that a majority of the people seem to think that it would be the only way to save them from misery & to restore their prosperity— This is a most melancholy fact. All my attachments are to the union; & there are no sacrifices wh<mutilated> as an honest man I could make, I would not be willing to make, to preserve it. I view the present prospects therefore with the utmos<t> despondency It is in vain to disguise even from our selves that we are on the brink of a revolution— If the Hartford Convention should not recommend it, (of which I am not sure) I fear that the most we can hope will be a temporary postponement of this terrible evil— Nothing is so desireable as a union among the the considerate men of all parties— If any thing can save us, it will be this— without this union all will soon be lost, if a peace should not come— Is there no way in which the real calm federalists can be induced to unite cordially with a like class of republicans in devising measures for this most important purpose? It is painful for me to write on this distressing subject.

I fear that we shall be but indifferently accommodated at Washington his winter— I hope however that you will be able to procure us comfortable lodgings, as I understand that Tomlinsons Hotel is gone— I most earnestly hope that we w<ill> there meet under happier auspices, & have the pleasure of <Wel>coming a peace to our country. Believe me with the highest respect & esteem Your obliged & obedt Servant