Scope and Contents

Received his letter and is glad his farm is doing well; is not sure whether he will make it to Albemarle or not; was upset by what he said about General [President] Jackson's conduct and character and hopes he will not speak to anyone else in the same way; he is not seeking an office, so he has no need to speak favorably of Jackson, who has acted indecently and without propriety; Jackson had potential to be a good president, but has not done so; before Jackson was elected, he disapproved of appointed members of Congress to offices because they had a tendancy to act against the best interest of the country; after having been elected , however; Jackson appointed many members of Congress; the case of Tobias Watkins [letter torn]; does not show that Jackson is honest and principled; thinks there is no principle in removing good men from office just to appoint one's own supporters and friends; Jackson appointed editors to newpapers; considers whether Adams would have done so; asks how they should judge Jackson if not by his appointments; gives other ways of judging him, but rejects thm; [letter torn]; expects more of Jackson because of the claims he made while he was running ofr office; warns James that what politicians and office seekers say; the general public will disapprove of Jackson's actions;feels Jackson is a fool or a knave or both; will be glad to change his opinion if he is given reason to; thinks that James will have to agree with him before long; predictions about Jackson's presidency; [letter torn]; feel that the people will know Jackson's true nature without having to read it in the papers; has heard things from Jackson's men that would make James change his mind; (21 August) has heard from Mr. Maury and William; Mr. Maurystill has not received notice of his removal; Mrs. Maury is worried about the whole thing; goes to Petersburg tomorrow; Ritchie's letter frm Charles Carroll. [This next portion of the letter written on the first three pages across the original text]. Has had more acquaintance with the issue than James had, since James lives in a "Jackson atmosphere" which i sbiased; so does not support ADams and Clay; feels that if they were corrupt, Jackson is much more so; speaks his feelings as well as writing them; tell James not to talk about it, a he is not involved in politics; urges him to take his point of view; Ritchie disapproves of Jackson's appointment of editors; if anyone else had done so, the Enquirer would have pointed it outl by reading all the newspapers, he hopes to be able to figure out the truth; gives an example, using Washington Irving; no one is sure whether Irving will accept the appointment or not. 4pp. ALS