Hermitage August 28th. 1822. Dear Coll I have this moment recd yours of the 22nd ulto. and I am happy to learn that my advice for your abstaining from public employ that would draw you from your practice, has been approved by you, you will find on experience that I judged correctly - before things [inserted: can] settle down in your Territory - you must have a stable population, to obtain this, your land claims must be finally adjusted, and your vacant lands sold - you will then obtain a permanent population, and popularity [struck: then] will [inserted: then] be durable if bottomed upon Just principles, of right, & Justice; by this time you will have obtained a fortune, & a standing in public opinion, that cannot be shaken by [struck: the] [inserted: every] Breese, and you can come into congress with the admission of the state. I hope Doctor Bronaugh will be successful should the quote f[a]cotions of your voters be residence, only, I have no doubt but he will - if confined to house holders, then your delegate will come from the cost - It is all important for the prosperity of Pensacola, that the Delegate should be from West Florida - & I am sure Doctor Branaugh is best calculated of the two candidates, to procure for your Territory (in Congress) Justice - It affords me great pleasure to hear of your prosperity - and will always do so - [2] Industry & application to study will insure you Success, I have the wellfare of Capt Easter greatly at heart, nothing can impede his march to greatness, and wealth, but desepation - I have give him the advice of a father on this subject, I sincerely hope he will adopt, & pursue it - If he forms habits of industry and application, he will rise triumphant over his little misfortunes, and in alabama soon bring himself forward into public notice - present me to him affectionately - The circumstance of the heart burning between him & Judge Brakenridge, I sincerely regret - It must have occurred through a mistake of some kind for the benefit of all, let it buried - The relative solution that has exerted between you & Brokennadge ought to lead you both to harmonise, and I hope you will. It will redound to your advantage, for rest assured I know human [inserted: nature] pretty well, and where harmony exists between the Judge & the lawyer, the people will have greater confidence in that lawyer, than where strite exists - for the respectability and benefit of all, I [inserted: therefore] sincerely wish harmony to exist with you all. It is true, as you see from the papers, the Legislature has brought my name before the nation - I had intended to vissit the Legislature before I heard of this I intention; I [struck: therefore] declined it, [struck: on] being advised of it - [3] I have determined to let the people take their own course, as they have brought my name forward without consulting me - I am determined to let them go on in their own way uninfluenced by me any way - I never have been an applicant for office, I never will, I solicitted retirement - and to be candid with you I do not expect that, that retirement I have selected for myself, will be disturbed by the [inserted: unsolicited] call of a majority of the people - If in this I should be disappointed, I will have [inserted: to] yield (however reluctantly) to the wish of the people, and bestow upon them my best deliberations for their happiness, and the perpetuity of our happy Government - pursuing [text loss: the] independent cours I have allways do[text loss] and endeavuring to establish a national character upon the pure principles of republican simplicity - and purging the republic of corruption of every kind wherever it exists - but I fear, if the people should spontaneously call me, my health & constitution would not hold me out for four years - This is for them to Judge of, my wish & whole ambition is retirement, & if I am called from it - it shall be by the free voice of the people uninfluenced by me, this from the system of intrigue, of those aspirants for office, I have never calculated on, and therefore have declined answering all letters upon this subject -Mrs. J. James in best wishes for you & Easters wellfare & happiness - your friend Andrew Jackson Capt R.K. Coll- [written on left margin of second page] P.S. present me to Mr. Restledge & all friends A.J. [address leaf] 1822 Capt Richard K. Coll pensacola mail } [docket] Genl. Jackson.