llatin. It
is also surmised that the vote of Georgia will not be entire. Yet nobody
pretends to know these things of a certainty, and we know enough to be
certain that what it is surmised will be withheld, will still leave
you four or five votes at least above Mr. Adams. However, it was badly
managed not to have arranged with certainty what seems to have been left
to hazard. It was the more material, because I understand several of the
highflying federalists have expressed their hope that the two republican
tickets may be equal, and their determination in that case to prevent a
choice by the House of Representatives (which they are strong enough to
do) and let the government devolve on a President of the Senate. Decency
required that I should be so entirely passive during the late contest,
that I never once asked whether arrangements had been made to prevent
so many from dropping votes intentionally, as might frustrate half the
republican wish; nor did I doubt, till lately, that such had been made.

While I must congratulate you, my dear Sir, on the issue of this
contest, because it is more honorable, and doubtless more grateful to
you than any station within the competence of the chief magistrate, yet
for myself, and for the substantial service of the public, I feel most
sensibly the loss we sustain of your aid in our new administration. It
leaves a chasm in my arrangements, which cannot be adequately filled up.
I had endeavored to compose an administration, whose talents, integrity,
names, and dispositions, should at once inspire unbounded confidence
in the public mind, and insure a perfect harmony in the conduct of the
public business. I lose you from the list, and am not sure of all the
others. Should the gentlemen who possess the public confidence decline
taking a part in their affairs, and force us to take persons unknown to
the people, the evil genius of this country may realize his avowal
that 'he will beat down the administration.' The return of Mr.
Van Benthuysen, one of your electors, furnishes me a confidential
opportunity of writing this much to you, which I should not have
ventured through the post-office at this prying season. We shall of
course see you before the fourth of March. Accept my respectful and
affectionate salutations.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCLXV.--TO JUDGE BRECKENRIDGE, December 18,1800

TO JUDGE BRECKENRIDGE.

Washington, December 18,1800.

Dear Sir,

I received, while at