LETTER XXVIII.--TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, April 13, 1806


TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS.

Washington, April 13, 1806.

Dear Sir,

The situation of your affairs certainly furnishes good cause for your
not acceding to my proposition of a special mission to Europe. My only
hope had been, that they could have gone on one summer without you.
An unjust hostility against General Armstrong will, I am afraid,
show itself whenever any treaty made by him shall be offered for
ratification. I wished, therefore, to provide against this, by joining a
person who would have united the confidence of the whole Senate. General
Smith was so prominent in the opposition to Armstrong, that it would be
impossible for them to act together. We conclude, therefore, to leave
the matter with Armstrong and Bowdoin. Indeed, my dear Sir, I wish
sincerely you were back in the Senate; and that you would take the
necessary measures to get yourself there. Perhaps, as a preliminary, you
should go to our legislature. Giles's absence has been a most serious
misfortune. A majority of the Senate means well. But Tracy and Bayard
are too dexterous for them, and have very much influenced their
proceedings. Tracy has been of nearly every committee during the
session, and for the most part the chairman, and of course drawer of the
reports. Seven federalists voting always in phalanx, and joined by some
discontented republicans, some oblique ones, some capricious, have so