Your friendship will induce you not only to pardon this protracted answer to your favor by Mr Bartram, but to regret the cause of it, when I inform you that I am Just recovering from a severe bilious attack, which succeeded a distressing dyspectical state of my stomach, which really unfitted me for business of every kind. By the blessing of a kind Providence, good nursing, and the skill of my Physician, I am now decidedly convalescent and 'tho a good deal debilitated, I am enjoying more bodily comfort than I have experienced for some months past, on account of the absence of all dyspeptical feelings. Thus favoured, I do not mean to trust the air of this part of the country beyond a few days longer, after which I shall pass the Blue ridge, visit Bath & the sulphur springs, & then sit down amongst My nephews & other relations in Jefferson County, until the time arrives when I shall have to take up my line of March to the North.

     I was very much pleased with the respectable Alderman you were pleased to introduce to me, & regretted that his engagements prevented him from yielding to my solicitations to dine & spend the day with us.

     I am gratified to send that you were soon to commence the publication of the 4th Vol. of the Circuit Court reports, being extremely anxious to see them brought to the point where another volume will embrace all the cases which shall then have been decided.

     Your prospectus for the consolidated work to embrace in six volumes all the decided cases of the Supreme Court is excellent, and must take with the bar in every part of the United States.  To them it cannot fail to be a treasure, & I do not doubt but that the universal patronage it will recieve in the western, as well as in the Atlantic States, will liberally reward you for the trouble you must necessarily encounter in preparing it in the Style you propose.  most truly my dear Sir, do I wish success to your undertaking.

     I cannot account for the delay I have and yet experience in recieving from the State department your volume of Sup. Crt decisions. Tomorrow I shall send for them.

     Present me most respectfully to Mrs R. and affectionately to your good father. Believe me most truly yrs