I recd at the Springs your favor announcing the death of my venerable & beloved friend, Judge Peters. I was shocked on receiving the information, and yet I had endeavoured for more than twelve months to prepare myself for it. But he has descended to the tomb ripe in years, and full of those public & private virtues which embalm those we loved whilst living in the hearts of their survivors. I recd about the same time a letter upon the same melancholy subject from our friend Doct. Chapman, to whom you will please show this, & request him to consider as an answer, in consideration of my immediate departure hence, which prevents me from writing more than one letter.

     I can assure you both that I lost no time in addressing the Prest and Secrety of State in favor of our valued friend Hopkinson, & in the terms which seemed to me best calculated to promote our wishes. To pass him by in favor of any competitor would be a reproach to the discernment and patriotism of our executive magistrate which I cannot by anticipation impute to him. I have summed up to him & to Mr Clay all that my observations for 30 years enabled me to say, ”that J.H. would be an ornament & acquisition to any bench in the U.S.”

     I shall leave this about the 18th inst., & hope to be in Phila. about the 25th.

     Present me in the most friendly terms to the members of the bar as well as to the Mortal preserver of my health & believe me to be most truly & sincerely yrs