Mount Vernon, December 4, 1797.

    Dear Sir: Your very interesting and obliging favor of the 15th. of September from the Hague, came duly to hand, and I thank you sincerely for the important details with which it is fraught, and pray for the continuation of them.

    I congratulate you too on your safe arrival from Ship-board; and, as the Newspapers tell us, at Paris; and I wish in a little while hence I may have it in my power to do the same on the favourable conclusion of your Embassy, and happy return to your family and friends in this Country. To predict the contrary might be as unjust as it would be impolitic, and therefore, Mum, on that topic. Be the issue however, what it may, three things I shall be perfectly satisfied of; and these are, that nothing which justice, sound reasoning, and fair representation would require, will be wanting to render it just and honorable; and if it is not so, that the eyes of all, in this country, who are not wilfully blind, and resolved to remain so (some from one motive, and some from another), will be fully opened; and lastly, that if the French Directory proceed on the supposition that the parties in these United States are nearly equal, and that one of them would advocate their measures in the dernier resort, they will greatly deceive themselves; for the Mass of our Citizens require no more than to understand a question to decide it properly, and an adverse conclusion of the Negotiation will effect this. Indeed, I believe it may be said with truth, that a very great change in the public mind has taken place already. The leaders, it is true, attempt to keep up the Ball: which is evidently declining; but as both houses of Congress have formed quorums, and received the Presidents Speech, the response of the Representative branch will be some criterian by which this opinion of mine may be tried, though not a conclusive one.

    The situation of things in Holland is a good lesson for us, if we are disposed to profit by it; but unfortunately the nature of man is such, that the experience of others is not attended to as it ought to be; we must feel ourselves, before we can think, or perceive the danger that threatens; but as this letter (after it quits the Office of the Secretary of State, to whose care I shall send it) may pass through many hands, I shall dwell very little on European Politics. It is laughable enough, however, to behold those men, amongst us, who were reprobating in the severest terms, and sounding the Tocsin upon every occasion that a wild imagination could torture into a stretch of Power, or unconstitutionality in the Executive of the United States, all of a sudden become the warm advocates of those high handed measures of the French Directory which succeeded the arrestations on the 4th. of September: and this too without denying that the barriers of the constitution under which they acted have been overleaped, but do it on the ground of tender mercy, and an unwillingness to shed blood. But so it always has been, and I presume ever will be with men, who are governed more by passion and party views than by the dictates of justice, temperance and sound policy. If there were good grounds to suspect that the proscribed and banished characters were engaged in a conspiracy against the Constitution of the People's choice, to seize them even in an irregular manner, might be justified upon the ground of expediency, or self preservation; but after they were secured and amenable to the Laws to condemn them without a hearing; and consign them to punishment more rigorous perhaps than death is the summit of despotism.

    A very severe winter has commenced. Since the first of November we have hardly experienced a moderate Day; heavy rains following severe frosts have done more damage to the Winter grain, now growing, than I recollect ever to have seen. At this moment and for several days past, all the Creeks and small waters are hard bound with Ice, and the Navigation of the River, if not entirely stopped is yet, very much impeded by it. The Crops of Indian Corn in the lower parts of the State, have been uncommonly great: midway of it, tolerably good; but under the Mountains and above them, extremely bad, with partial exceptions. The Wheaton Crop, in quantity turned out better than was expected; in quality remarkable fine; the white or early wheat, weighing from 60, to 64 lb. pr. bushel.