Washington Oct. 31. 1801. Dear Sir Your favor of the 24th. has been duly received. The promise visit to you had not escaped us; on the contrary mr. Madison & myself conferring on the subject, it has been agreed that I should write to you to know when mr Mercer & yourself would be at home. on further consideration however it occurred to us that such a Jacobincal visit made at this time might have an influence of a character we could not for see on the election which comes on the ensuing week at Annapolis. We [illegible] how much the Tories had tortured & perverted our own accidental visits in Virginia, and concluded it would be better to postpone this pleasure till it can do you no mischief claiming therefore the benefits of the French adage that 'tout ce qui est differé n'est pas perdu' we reserve ourselves for a more favorable moment. Present my respectful compliments to mr Mercer and accept yourself assurance of my constant & affectionate esteem. Th: Jefferson John F. Mercer