Delaware journal., 1828-10-24
MONTICELLO, Dec. 25, 1925.
Dir. GILES ::

Dir. GILES
DEAR SIR Your favor of the 18th was received
four days ago 1t found me engaged in what could
not lay aside till this day.
Far advanced in my 93d year, worn down with
in6rmes which have confined me almost entirely
to the house for or months past, it afflicts me
much to receive appeals to my memory for transac-
tons far back that which is the sub ect Ut your
letter. NJ memory is indeed become almost blank,
of which no better ptOnf can probably be given you
than by my solemn protes'ation that have not The
least recollection OF your intervention between Mr..
John Q. Adams and myself, in what passed on the
subject oi the embargo. Not the slightest trace oi it
remains in my mind. Yet have no doubt of the
exactitude of the statement in your letter. And
the less as recollect the interview with Mr.. Adams
to which the previous communications which had
past between him aud yourself, were probably aud
naturally the preliminary. That interview | re-
member we'll; not, indeed, in the very words which
passed between Us, but in their substance. which
was of character too awful, too deeply engraved
in my mind, and Influencing too materially the
course | had to pursue. ever to be forgotten. Mr..
Adams called ON me pending the embargo. ahd
while endeavors were making to obtain its repeal
He made some apologies for the call, on the ground
of our not being then III the habit OF confidential
communications, but that which he had then to make
involved too seriously the interests of our country
not to overrule all other considerations with him,
and make it his duty to reveal it to myself par,icu
larly. assured him there no occasion for an,
apology for his visit, that on the contrary his con
nunicatons would be- thankfully received and wuult
add confirmation the more to my entire confdenc
III the recutude and patriotism of his conduct ant
principles. lie spoke then of the dissatisfaction o
the Eastern portion of our Conederacy with tn
restraints OF the embargo then existing, and thei
restlessne,s under it. That there was nothing whic
might not be attempted to rid themselves of il
That he bad Information of the most unuuestiou;
BILE certainty that certain citizens of the Easter
States q think he named Massachusetts particuIa
ly) were in negotiation with the agents of the Bri
ish Government, the object Of which was an agre
ment that the New England States should take
further part in the war then going on that, wit
out formally declaring their separation from Il
Union OF the States. they should withdraw from
aid and obedience TO them that their navigation al
commerce should be Free from restraint or interru
ton by the British; that they should be consider
and treated by them as neulrals and such mig
conduct themselves towards both parties and
the close OF the war, be at liberty to rejon the Ct
feeracy.
He assured me that there was imminent dan.
that the Convention would take place, that
temptations were such as might debauch ma
from their fidelity to the Uni0n, and that to ena
its friends to make head against it, the repeal of
embargo was absolutely necessary. EXPIRE sse
Just sense OF the merit Of the information, and
the Importance OF the disclosure to the safety ;
even salvation OF our country and however rel
tant was to abandon the measure "a measure wh
persevered In little longer, we had subseuu
and satisfactory assurance would have effected
object completely from that moment, and indu
ced by that information, saw the necessity of al