“Dr Sir,

… Your letter to S. W. Ruggles Esq. has been sent to him, but he is said to be out of business & poor, saying nothing of his utter unwillingness as is alleged, to pay his debts.

Your suggestions about the President I believe to be entirely just. He is an honest man, and deserves well of his country. I suppose he is to be rechosen, in effect, by default, and an attempt to bring about an “era of good feelings” is being made. If it could be truly such I should rejoice, but I should view it only as the precursor of a scourge worse than war, pestilence & famine.

You shall have the documents as printed. As yet I have recd but one copy of the report of the [Secret]ary of the Treasury. With that document [so] far as relates to the U.S. Bank, I am not well satisfied: in other respects it is generally applauded…”