I am aware dear sir, that this excellent man, has in different sections of the country enemies— whose strides are made to reach the genuineness of the honest adopters of the “Declaration of indipendence” and aim to derange that circumstance “For which we bear to live, nor dare to die”. I believe that he is one of those, whom erudilition has taught, that “To be able to bear provocations is an argument of great wisdom, and to forgive enemies injuries a <​proves​> a great mind, for a more glorious Victory cannot be obtained over another man <​than​> this, that when the injury began on his part, the kindness should be begun & continued on ours.”

As Agesilaus says, on being asked the means of procuring a good reputation, “Speak well and act better.” This friend has not failed to do in the history of his life, among his associates from boyhood & in the ranks of public responders. He has in my estimation acquired reputation by Studying to be virtuous and kind as he would wish to be thought. Even when his reputation has been sullied by inviduous calumnies, he rejoiced that his character could not suffer by<​but​> by false inputations. To close my answer to your letter, which so perfectly concerts in sentiment with my own— I will say, that in private circles & public obedience— he is like to good metal, the more he is put in the fire the more he is refined, and the more he is opposed the more he is approved; wrongs may try him, but cannot imprint in him any false stamp. His integrity therefore, though slandered, stands upon an eminence, and sees human things below him: the tempest indeed may politically reach him. but he stands secure and collected against it, upon the basis of conscious virtue, which the severest storms can seldom shake, and never overthrow. [p. [2]]