You ask me to give you a detailed, choronological Sketch as near as I can of my life. This is impossible at this time & at this place. I will however, as well as my memory will enable me, and the uninterrupted occupation of my time by my official duties, endeavour to answer your various questions, leaving it to you to put them into method.

     I do not know the name of my G. father, but must refer you to Marshalls & Weems life of Genl Washington in one or both of which I expect you will find a full account of the family so far as it is immediately connected with the chief Subject of those works. My father John Augustine was the third Son of the second marriage. My mother Hannah was the daughter of Mr John Bushrod & the Coheiress with a Sister of his fortune. My father & mother always resided at Bushfield, on the Potomack in Westmoreland County—the estate inherited by her from her father. My father as well as the General & his other brothers were born & I believe educated in Westmoreland County. I presume he was about 5 years younger than Genl W. He and my mother both died at Bushfield, the former in 1787 & the latter in 1801 and from them I inherited that estate, which I sold about the year 1802 when I removed to Mount Vernon. They had 11 children, of whom I alone, the eldest Son, survived my mother. We were all born at Bushfield where I recieved 4 years of my classical education vz. from about the year 73 to 77 having been previously educated by Mr Balmain at the house of Colo. Richard H. Lee in the same County, and advanced as far as Cesar &c. I was entirely educated under the care of my father altho' I lived at home only the 4 years above mentioned. In 78 or thereabouts, at the age of 16, I went to Fredericksburg and finished my greek, latin & Mathematical Studies at a public School under the direction of the same Mr Lowe. Sometime in the year 1780 (I think) I went to the University of William & Mary and commenced the study of law under Mr Wythe the professor of law—learned french, and attended the lectures of the President of the College Mr Madison in natural philosophy & of [<2m#>] in Moral. I had read most of the greek & latin authors usually learned by young men intended to have a liberal education. The frequent interruptions we experienced during the 9 months I remained at W. & M. obliged me about the termination of that period to leave it. The young men formed a volunteer Corps under a fellow Collegean Mr Nelson & were twice in the field for short periods but did nothing except it was to prove our patriotism & good intentions. I went to Fredericksburg in 1781 and read law with Colo. John F. Mercer 'till about the time when the british under L[or]d Cornwallis advanced to Richmond—when he formed a volunteer company of horse composed of the young gentlemen of the neighbourhood. I became a member of it & continued so till after the action at Greenspring when my fathers' anxiety about my education induced him to recall me home & in Jany 82 he sent me to Phila. to continue my professional Studies. In the action at Greenspring we lost some of our horses & amongst them Colo. Mercers was shot under him, in a successful attempt to dislodge some of the enemy who in the Commencement of the action had taken possession of a small house in front— We lost no men & in fact did nothing worthy of Notice.

     Genl Washington was at Phila. when I arrived, and he selected the office of Mr Wilson (afterwards Judge) and paid him the usual fee 100 guineas. I continued with Mr W. till the Spring of 84 when I returned to Virga, obtained a license & commenced the practice of law at Fredericksburg & in the neighbouring inferior Courts—married on Novr 85 the second daughter of Colo. Thos Blackburn of Rippon Lodge & removed immediately to Bushfield where we resided in my fathers family till his death in Jany 1787 & some time longer practicing law in the mean time in the Courts of the adjoining Counties In that year I served in the legislature of Virga— in 1788 in the Convention of this State, & about the latter end of that year I removed to Alexandria & pursued the practice there & in the neighbourhood 'till 1792 when I removed to Richmond & practiced in the Superior Courts till my appointment to my present office in Septr 1798— I had never before filled any public office. I am President of the Society for Colonizing the free people of Colour of the U.S.—one of the V. Presidents of the American bible Society—member of the American philosophical Society—and of some others such as the Antiquarian &c. I have never written any works except "reports of decisions in the Court of appeals of Virga["] 2 vol.

     General Washington by his will bequeathd to me Mount Vernon, the place of his residence with 4000 acres of land attached to & a proportion of the residuum of his estates, together with his papers & library— I have not the will with me & cant be more particular. The Vault at Mt Vernon contains the bones of Genl W. Mrs W. his widow & many of my ancestors and is directed by his will to be enlarged for the use of such of the family as may wish to be deposited there.

     Thus Sir I have with infinite difficulty & under a most intolerable pressure of the business of the Court endeavoured to give you as minute an answer to your questions as I possibly can. I have not time to add more, & in my humble opinion more than enough of uninteresting matter is stated, at all events in relation to a man in active & public life; too little perhaps if he were off the Stage. But I do not pretend to dictate to you. I am respectfully Yr mo. ob. Sert