Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) to Benjamin F. Butler

Hermitage
April 4th1839 -
My dear Sir,
your kind letter of the 16th of March last is received, and I assure it affords me much pleasure to find that those sentiments of mutual friendship created by our official association in those trying and arduous scenes thro which we had to pass, are still cherished by you - my friendship for you, and that high sense of your moral worth, your talents & integrity, will remain bright in my recollection so long as a kind providence permits me to remain here beloved. The late apostacy [sic] of many of our political friends, brings often to my mind the [inserted: great] vallue [sic] of virtuous & enlightened men, around an administration whose sole aim is to administer the government agreable [sic] to the principles of the constitution, & the prosperity and happiness of the people - it is in this light that I so highly appreciate you & some others that composed my cabinet, in those [2] interesting & trying scenes that we had to pass thro, in battling with the combined mony [sic] power & all its corrupting influence.
I long desired to take upon myself those sacred relations I have assumed by joining the Church - but upon my best reflections, I thought it best to postpone [sic] this privilege & duty until I could retire to private life, - a kind providence preserved my life and has permitted me to live until that desirable day arrived. when the first of opportunity presented, I took upon me the sacred relations I have done. Having thus performed this sacred duty, my mind is calm & I am happy under all my afflictions, & regardless of all the slanders that the wicked assail me in my retirement with, and can truly now say, I regard not what man can do unto me:
On the receipt of your official letter I handed it over to Major A. J. Donalson to execute the commission. He has done so - But I fear, forever [3] looking over the memorandum of the answers to the interrogations put to me, that a clerical error has been made in the date of the year I took my Eastern tour, & was in Boston; I fear the year 1834 has been inserted instead of the year 1833, - it was in june [sic] 1833 I was in Boston - If this clerical error has been made, as I fear from looking over the notes of memorandum, I hope I may be permitted to correct it. it is not a material part of the [text loss]sation, but it would give me pain to have any thing but the real truth [inserted: however it might be reproduced] appear on the deposition - will you my Dr Sir look at it, & if this clerical error exists, let me be permitted to correct it - when the deposition was taken it was at a time that I was unable to write my answers & of course they were written by the commissioner.
Will you accept for yourself & present to your amiable Lady & family, the kind salutations of myself & all my Houshold [sic], and believe me your unalterable & faithfull [sic] Friend
Andrew Jackson
B.F. Butler Esqr -

[address]
B.F. Butler Esqr
Newyork [sic]

[docket]
Andrew Jackson
April [text loss] 1839.