[Draft Excerpt:] I received the Genls Proclamation ag[ains]t Adams. I should like to know under whose flag the Genl has enlisted, be he who he may, unless the Genl is more successful than formerly, in enlisting recruits, he will be a shabby auxiliary. He says Adams is not statesman & yet he has been prime minister, during almost the whole of that administration, which S. says has been more glorious than any other. Is there in the U.S. a man who had ever intimated that Adams was unfit for the foreign [mission?], he has held or the station, he now oversees? Even his enemies admitt he has discharged the duties of these stations with signal, & almost [unnequalled?] glory. Does this give him no claim to the character of statesman. The General is pleased to give the preference to this administration over the last; forgeting perhaps that he has figured under both, tho' I can assure him the American people have not forgot it - What, I ask, under Heaven, casts a shade over Madisons administration, except the bungling & blustering conduct & disgraceful defeats & retreats of some of his military chieftains on the Canada border, who appeared much more dexterous & fond of wielding the quill, than the sword. ...I desire to know how it came about, that Russell was appointed chairman of the com. of &c. do he & A. meet & converse? I want to know who this [illegible] like to have the honor of giving birth to a V. President? Has the Dr brought in his bill yet to this effect, &, if so, will it pass? I think when we have ___President & ___V. pres. and Russell, Sec. of State, Smyth, Sec. of War & Dr. F. Sec. of the Navy we shall again be in the high road of successful experiment - [Don Amis?] if he should come again, will be overwhelmed & confounded by the Secretarys latin if not by his argument - Our Army will be as brave as Demosthenes to talk, and about as good to fight - And our Navy will be amputated in stile, or phisicked to perfection....