Autograph letter signed : Washington, to his daughter Martha, 1801 Jan. 16.

Saying he longs "to be in the midst of the children, and have more pleasure in their little follies than in the wisdom of the wise. here too there is such a mixture of the bad passions of the heart that one feels themselves in an enemy's country. it is an unpleasant circumstance, if I am destined to stay here, that the great proportion of those of the place who figure, are federalists, and most of them of the violent kind. some have been so personally bitter than they can never forgive me, tho' I do them with sincerity. perhaps in time they will get tamed. our prospect as to the election has been alarming: as a strong disposition exists to prevent an election, & that case not being provided for by the constitution, a dissolution of the government seemed possible. at present there is a prospect that some, tho' federalists, will prefer yielding to the wishes of the people rather than have no government;" discussing future family gatherings; adding in a postscript, "Hamilton is using his uttermost influence to procure my election rather than Col. Burr's.