To General Washington.

DEAR SIR,—Your favor of came to hand by the mail of Wednesday. I did not write by several late returns for two reasons: one, the improbability of your having got back to Mount Vernon; the other, a bilious indisposition, which confined me for several days. I am again tolerably well recovered.

Appearances at present are less favorable than at the date of my last. Our progress is slow, and every advantage is taken of the delay to work on the local prejudices of particular sets of members. British debts, the Indiana claim, and the Mississippi, are the principal topics of private discussion and intrigue, as well as of public declamation. The members who have served in Congress have been dragged into communications on the last, which could not be justifiable on any other occasion, if on the present. There is reason to believe that the event may depend on the Kentucky members, who seem to lean more against than in favor of the Constitution. The business is in the most ticklish state that can be imagined. The majority will certainly be very small, on whatever side it may finally lie; and I dare not encourage much expectation that it will be on ’the favorable side.

Oswald, of Philadelphia, has been here with letters for the anti-federal leaders from New York, and probably Philadelphia. He staid a very short time here, during which he was occasionally closeted with H—y, M—s—n, &c. I learn from New York that the elections have proved adverse to the Constitution.

Yrs affecty.