The sudden & unexpected termination of the Circuit Court in April prevented my acknowledging your favor of the 9th of that month, whilst I was in Phila., and many circumstances, unnecessary to detail, have united to postpone the performance of this duty since my return home. I beg leave now to offer you my apology, and to request you to accept my thanks for the pamphlet which accompanied your letter.

     No man can feel more regret or alarrm than I do at attempts to create parties in our Country partaking of a sectional character, or marked by any of those Circumstances which are connected unavoidably with the different States of Society within those sections—such as argricultural, commercial & manufacturing States—slave holding & nonslave holding States, & the like. So far from uniting in the Sentiment of the member of Congress, so much applauded by the editor of the address p. 11, as to the seperation of the Union, that my prayer is "let the Union be preserved, whatever other evil may befall us"! and my hope in the security of this great object, by human means, rests upon the good dispositions of the people, and their sense of the political necessity of the Union for the preservation of their dearest interests. I am Dr Sir very respectfully your mo. ob. Serv.