... Yesterday, on counting the votes, Burr and Jefferson had 73 votes each, as was already known. At one o'clock in the afternoon we returned to our chamber and kept balloting till eight o'clock this morning without making a choice. We balloted 27 times, and on each ballot the result was the same; eight States for Jefferson, six for Burr, two divided. At eight o'clock we agreed (without adjourning the House) to suspend the further balloting till twelve o'clock, and during that time I went to sleep. We have just returned and balloted once more, when, the result being still the same, we have just now agreed to suspend the balloting till to-morrow at eleven o'clock. Still the House is not adjourned, and we consider this as a permanent sitting; but by mutual agreement it is a virtual adjournment, as we shall not meet nor do any business till to-morrow. I must write to Philadelphia, Lancaster, and New York, to keep them acquainted of our situation, and I want to return to bed, which must be my apology, with my love, for this short letter. Our hopes of a change on their part are exclusively with Maryland, but everything on that subject is conjecture.... GALLATIN TO JAMES NICHOLSON, NEW YORK. CITY OF WASHINGTON, 14th February, 1801. 3 o'clock, afternoon. DEAR SIR,--Nothing new to-day; 3 ballots, making in all 33, result the same. We have postponed balloting till Monday, twelve o'clock. That day will, I think, show something more decisive, either yielding on their part or an attempt to put an end to balloting in order to legislate. We will be ready at all points, and rest assured that _we_ will not yield. It is the most impudent thing that they, with only six States and two half States, represented on this floor only by 39 members, should expect that a majority of eight States and two half States, represented on this floor by 67 members, should give up to the minority, and that, too, against the decided opinion of an immense majority of the people. Federal instructions are pouring from this vicinity on Thomas, the representative of this district, to induce him to make an election by voting for Mr. Jefferson, but I do not know what effect they may have. Mr. Joseph Nicholson has been very unwell, but would not desert his post. A bed was fixed for him in the committee-room, and he lay there and voted all night the 11th to 12th. He has also attended every day since, and has recovered amazingly, notwithstanding the risk he ran in exposing himself to cold. GALLATIN TO JAMES NICHOLSON, NEW YORK. CITY OF WASHINGTON, 16th February, 1801. DEAR SIR,--I am sorry that I cannot yet relieve you from the present general anxiety. We have balloted for the 34th time this morning, and the result is still the same.