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that a vacancy would be made in the navy department, unless it unclear. I am now apprehensive that Capt Decaturs brilliant action of the 25th of Oct has saddled him upon the nation. Yesterday the President sent out a message making the most of Capts Decatur and Jones's victories. It is wholly uncertain who is to succeed Eustis. I am afraid things will be no better. The man, who comes in, will have a bad time of it, for he will have to remove with a strong arm, many of the old gouty, bankrupt, embezzling incumbents, who appear to think that they are the only natus consumere fruges, of this nation. I rather suppose that Armstrong or Harrison will be selected. I shall vote for either of them tho' I dislike the character of the former and know nothing of the latter. Harrison by Otis has written to his father that the unclear general at Hallifax declared in the