Since I came to Virginia, I have generally been so buryed in Retirement as to want opportunities of writing to Philadelphia— You Sir, are the first, to whom my respects are due; permit me to return you my sincere thanks and acknowledgment for the attention and politeness with which you favored me whilst under your care, but most of all for those advantages which I derived from your friendly and instructive Communications in the line of my Studies— Favors which associate in them both utility and complaisance make the deepest impressions on my heart, and fill it with affection and Gratitude.

I have been very unhappy since I came to Virginia, in the necessity of leading an idle Life— My Library which I sent for to London has but Just arrived, and without it I could not venture to commence practice.

The Mode of Doing Business in the legal Line, will shortly undergo a total Change– At our Last Session of Assembly, a Law was passed establishing Circuit Courts through the State— This is both a Just and liberal Law, not only by diffusing equal Justice through Virginia, but by dividing the practice, which before was monopolized by a few General Court Lawyers, who were stationed in and about Richmond— We shall all now have the same advantages, and Merit only can succeed— The operation of the Act is suspended until April next; until that time, I shall continue to content myself with the trifling, but laborious practice of the County Courts— The Law as it at present stands is very imperfect, but I hope that its value will induce the next assembly to give it proper amendment— From an adherence (rather servile, than from a sense of propriety) to the Courts in England, they have deprived the assizes of original Jurisdiction; the Record of the issue of every cause is made up in the General Court, and sent down to be tryed in the district to which it belongs— This will be attended with infinite confusion and inconvenience, and will render the benefit intended by the Act incomplete.

I am living in Fredericksburg on Rappahanock River, and shall practice in the assizes of the Northern Neck below the Blue Ridge, and in one or two on the South side of Rappahanock— If you or your friends should have any business in the legal Line to be transacted in that Circuit, I will pay the highest attention to such as you may think me worthy of being entrusted with.

After Wishing you, Mrs Wilson and family, the full and lasting possession of health and happiness, permit me to assure you, that with every Sentiment of Esteem I am Dr Sir Yours affectionately