"  Most  truly  yours,  K.  Choate."

The  first  distinct  intimation  that  he  gave  of  his
probable  political  course  was  in  a  note  to  Mr.  Everett.
It  was  little  more  than  a  conjecture,  however,  hardly  a
declaration  of  a  fixed  purpose ;  yet  he  was  not  timid
in  declaring  his  opinions  when  fully  formed  and  the
occasion  demanded  it,  and  in  his  letter  to  the  Whigs
of  Maine,  dated  the  9th  of  August,  he  unhesitatingly
affirmed  his  position.  This  letter  was  in  answer  to  an
urgent  request  from  the  Whig  State  Committee  to  ad-
dress the  people  at  a  mass  meeting  in  Waterville.
To  E.  W.  Eablet,  and  other  gentlemen,  of  the  Maine  Whig  State
Central  Committee.
"  Boston,  Aug.  9, 1856.
"  Gentlemen,  —  Upon  my  return  last  evening,  after  a
short  absence  from  the  city,  I  found  your  letter  of  the  30th
ult.,  inviting  me  to  take  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Whigs
of  Maine,  assembled  in  mass  meeting.
"  I  appreciate  most  highly  the  honor  and  kindness  of  this
invitation,  and  should  have  had  true  pleasure  in  accepting  it.
The  Whigs  of  Maine  composed  at  all  times  so  important  a
division  of  the  great  national  party,  which,  under  that  name.
302  MEMOIR  OF  EUFUS  CHOATE.         [Chap.  IX.
