To his wife Mr.Gallatin expressed some doubt whether his abilities were equal to the office, and whether the Senate would confirm him, and said, certainly with sincerity, 'that he would not be sorry nor hurt in his feelings if his nomination should be rejected, for exclusively of the immense responsibility, labor, etc., attached to the intended office, another plan which would be much more agreeable to him and to her had been suggested, not by his political friends, but by his New York friends.' He was by no means comfortable in his finances, and he had already formed a plan of studying law and removing to New York.

He had made up his mind to leave the western country, which would necessarily end his congressional career.

His wife was forlorn in his absence, and suffered so many hardships in her isolated residence that he felt no reluctance to the change.

To one of his wife's family he wrote at this time:-- "As a political situation, the place of secretary of the treasury is doubtless more eligible and congenial to my habits; but it is more laborious and responsible than any other, and the same industry which will be necessary to fulfill its duties, applied to another object, would at the end of two years have left me in the possession of a profession which I might have exercised either in Philadelphia or New York.

But our plans are all liable to uncertainty, and I must now cheerfully undertake that which had never been the object of my ambition or wishes." Well might he hesitate as he witnessed the distress which had overtaken the great party which for twelve years had held the posts of political honor.