n, 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 election, which is of twelve members,
and of course makes a difference of twenty-four, which is sufficient to
make the two Houses, joined together, republican in their vote. Governor
Clinton, General Gates, and some other old revolutionary characters,
have been put on the republican ticket. Burr, Livingston, &c. entertain
no doubt on the event of that election. Still these are the ideas of the
republicans only in these three States, and we must make great allowance
for their sanguine views. Upon the whole, I consider it as rather more
doubtful than the last election, in which I was not deceived in more
than a vote or two. If Pennsylvania votes, then either Jersey or New
York giving a republican vote, decides the election. If Pennsylvania
does not vote, then New York determines the election. In any event,
we may say that if the city election of New York is in favor of the
republican ticket, the issue will be republican; if the federal ticket
for the city of New York prevails, the probabilities will be in favor
of a federal issue, because it would then require a republican vote both
from Jersey and Pennsylvania to preponderate against New York, on which
we could not count with any confidence. The election of New York being
in April, it becomes an early and interesting object. It is probable the
landing of our Envoys in Lisbon will add a month to our session; because
all that the eastern men are anxious about, is to get away before the
possibility of a treaty's coming in upon us.

Present my respectful salutations to Mrs. Madison, and be assured of my
constant and affectionate esteem,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCLIX.--TO JAMES MADISON, May 12, 1800

TO JAMES MADISON.

Philadelphia, May 12, 1800.

Dear Sir,

Congress will rise to-day or to-morrow. Mr. Nicholas proposing to call
on you, you will get from him the Congressional news. On the whole