Complimentarythankstowriterswhohavesentmetheirworks，havebetrayedmesometimesbeforethepublic，withoutmyconsenthavingbeenasked。ButIamfarfrompresumingtodirectthereadingofmyfellowcitizens，whoaregoodenoughjudgesthemselvesofwhatisworthytheirreading。Iam，also，toodesirousofquiettoplacemyselfinthewayofcontention。AgainstthisIamadmonishedbybodilydecay，whichcannotbeunaccompaniedbycorrespondingwaneofthemind。OfthisIamasyetsensible，sufficientlytobeunwillingtotrustmyselfbeforethepublic，andwhenIceasetobeso，Ihopethatmyfriendswillbetoocarefulofmetodrawmeforthandpresentme，likeaPriaminarmor，asaspectacleforpubliccompassion。Ihopeourpoliticalbarkwillridethroughallitsdangers；butIcaninfuturebebutaninertpassenger。
Isaluteyouwithsentimentsofgreatfriendshipandrespect。
THEMISSOURIQUESTION
_ToAlbertGallatin_
_Monticello，Dec。26，1820_