I was much gratified by the Receipt of your Letter of the 8th instant. I have been uneasy lest you Should suffer by the Inroads of the Enemy, or the Depredations of undisciplined Friends. Mount Vernon should be hallowed, even by Barbarians. But all things are not as they ought to be, now a Days. I hope, however, that Vengeance is glutted by the Prostration of our Capitol. The Geese once saved the Capitol of Rome; but ours are not of the Same Breed; they would, had they so been, at least have given timely warning. I do not believe, either, that the Roman Geese made Use of their Wings, to bear them off from Danger. Here is another hybridous Symptom. It is truly hard that we who contributed Nothing to bring on War & its calamitous Consequences, should be bound to suffer, with the Authors of it, all its Horrors & Misfortunes. We must distinguish, however, between our Country, & those who misrule it; & do our Duty in Defence of our natale Solum. A spirit has risen here that would be all Sufficient, if it had sooner begun; & may yet deter the Enemy—if it does not punish any Attempt they may make. My Motto is nil desperandum. 

I have no Hesitation in saying that it would be idle to attempt, holding our October Court. All the Citizens of every Description are engaged in providing for their Safety. Those who can fight, seem to be willing—those who can work are busy—& those who, from Fear or Folly, (I hope not many) are ready for Submission, are cooly calculating how much their Share of Contribution may be. For my Part, I am past my time for fighting or working; & am an anxious Looker on. 

I have spoken with none of the Bar, but E. Tilghman. He was decidedly of Opinion that there could be no Court in October. But hoped for a Winter Session; which I told him would come to Nothing. If our City be safe from the Philistines, I will open & adjourn the Court to some distant Day; to give Opportunity for Deliberation as to further progress— Stay you at Home, 'till Time shall direct what is the best Course to take. 

I am glad that the Tunis Sheep are getting into Vogue, in your Country. The Pillage of Corsairs has, probably, stir'd up an Atmosphere like their own in their native Region. Yet at Washington (the Name given I suppose ironically, by some Wag,) there seems to have been "great Cry, & little Wool". The Flock Masters, like the Month of March, came in Lions, & go out Lambs. But they verify Sancho's Proverb— "There be many who go abroad for Wool, & home Home themselves Shorn." I see in an Account of the Enemy's Progress in Washington, that one of their Conflagration-Parties marched thro' the "Pennsylvania Avenue." This was the Avenue thro' which his Satanic Majesty had his Procession, when his War-Worshippers began their mad Career. No Wonder that Mr Jefferson (ut audive) told Grainger, that while Virginia & Pennsylvania united in their Politics, their Party was perfectly secure. She had so much to do with plunging into War, (for plunging it was,) that I should not be surprised at Vengeance being wreaked upon her. I see no Comfort in the Development of the whole of Cochrane's Threatning Correspondence, but that it seems an Arrangement made between him & Prevost; without professing to have such Savage Orders directly from the British Government. I saw a Gentleman lately from Europe. He says the Ministry in England are better disposed towards us, than the People. He was at Ghent; & saw our Commissioners. Idle, & waiting for final Instructions—their orders having been dribled out by Drops. They had not heard of the Issue of the Hostage Business; which seemed a fine qua non. Clay communicative, & strong for Peace—Gallatin zealous also for Peace, & anti jacobin—prot deum!! Bayard Silent & Sour. This is my Informant's History. 

Let us pray for better Men, & wiser Measures. But neither will appear, 'till the Film is removed from the Eyes of the sovereign People. Whether we shall live to see this happy change, Time which bringeth mighty Things to pass, must disclose. If I should again behold the 'redeunt saturnia regna[']— I shall say, with good old Simeon, Lord now lettest thou they Servant depart in Peace, for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation. very affectionately yours