John Calhoun letter to James Monroe, 3 January 1828

Washington 3d Jan'y 1828

DEAR SIR, I have received your letters with the enclosed correspondence, which I find agrees with the list of letters attached, and which obviously forms a chain, that contains the whole correspondence on the occasion. I have again perused the whole with care, and see nothing, that will not do honor to your sagacity and patriotism.

It will be some time before I can receive the copy of the letter in question, and of course before it will be fully in my power to act with effect in this affair, but I do not doubt that it is the letter of the 9th Sep r and that when the whole comes to be understood, so far from the mischief intended being effected, it will end in bringing more fully to light, those traits of character, for which your friends have always so much esteemed you.

A sense of delicacy for the [present?] prevents me from stating my conjecture of the use which it was intended to make of the letter, or the quarter from which the intended blow was aimed. I hope finally to be able to trace the whole affair, but I am strongly inclined to think it was intended to fall on both of us.

I am much obliged to you for the liberty to take copies, but as I am much engaged, and as the originals may be more satisfactory, if you have no objection, I would prefer to retain them, till I receive the copy which I expect. They are carefully locked up with my private correspondence. Those that you intended for my own perusal, shall be seen by no one but myself.

I am happy to hear by Col Hayne and Mr England that you and Mrs Monroe are in good health. They were both much gratified with the visit.

Make my best respects to Mrs M. and to Mr and Mrs Hay.