Alexandria Daily Advertiser

A Good Thing

We venture to inform the reader that he is at liberty to peruse the following article from the Citizen of this morning under the impression that the editor is entirely mistaken, for the letter alluded to is now in Mr. Paine's possession, dated Oct. 9th 1801, and subscribed with the proper hand of Thomas Jefferson.

N.T. Herald

"It is reported in town and the report is in everybody's mouth, that the president has written a letter to Tom Paine, in which among other things it is said that no reasonable expectation can be formed of an amicable termination of our differences with England we see that the rumor has been wafted from this city to the editor of the United States Gazette, who in the hope of lessening the president in the esteem of his fellow citizens, has given it "form and pressure" in his paper. Is not this one of the many modes in which the character and conduct of Mr. Jefferson has been assailed by his federal opponents? I am inclined to think that it is."

Paine has indeed, in the moments of his intoxication, which are all his moments, shown a letter to his precious visitors, and to persons in the streets, which contains the opinion ascribed to Mr. Jefferson; which letter old pestilence asserts was written to him by the president: but who can believe it; who, cherishing a becoming respect for the exalted character of the executive, would give publicity to such a report, upon such authority? Paine has told a lie. The sagacity of the president; his regard for public decency and morals, and his known prudence and circumspection; all induce the belief that he has not written the letter which Paine, in his drunken belchings, has told half the town he has received from him, probably in the hope that the assertion might find its way into the federal prints as a choice item of fresh calumny. If Mr. Jefferson does not look queer when he sees the above, he must possess a wondrous command of countenance.