68 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



FROM MR. ELIHU CHAUNCEY. 



PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 30, 1801. 



..... POLITICS here claim the attention of all, from the 

 highest to the lowest, and my fondness for things of this 

 kind will not suffer me to remain a calm spectator. A few 

 weeks since, Bronson and myself attended a Democratic 

 meeting, and amused ourselves among the mob for an hour 

 or two. A scene of more complete riot and confusion I 

 never witnessed ; but, being unknown, we remained safe, 

 though we were somewhat apprehensive that violence 

 would be offered, in which case we should have come off 

 poorly, notwithstanding we were well armed for our de 

 fence. But here they openly talked of settling the differ 

 ences of party by the point of the bayonet, and their con 

 duct and conversation evidently showed that they stood 

 ready to cut our throats at the first signal. I thank you 

 for your kind wishes for my prosperity ; but, sir, such is the 

 state of things in Pennsylvania, that I think no young man, 

 whose principles are not fully Jacobin, can calculate upon 

 an immediate rise in business. Such is the violence of the 

 Democrats, that they deem no Federalist too insignificant 

 for their exertions to obstruct his progress. They will use 

 any means to accomplish their ends, and they are all-pow 

 erful in Pennsylvania. My brother [Charles] is doing tol 

 erably well ; but I have no doubt that, if he would turn 

 Democrat, he would soon acquire a decent property, and 

 gain political promotion. But I think he will yet prefer to 

 subsist upon a few dollars, which he sometimes gets, than 

 sacrifice his principles, though it should be attended with 

 the first honors of the state. 



TO MR. G. S. SILE1MAN. 



NEW HAVEX, Feb. 13, 1800. 



I " HAVE resumed my change with alacrity," and 



shall make every exertion " to discharge my trust with fidel- 



