In court, & on the verge of a trial, I can only state my dear sir that you have been correctly informed as to my prohibition of steam boat parties to M. V.— it has been made public for more than 3 years & was repeated more than 12 months ago. Of the necessity of the measure I could satisfy you in a few minutes, as well as of the propriety of adhering to it without making exceptions in any case. The fact is that a single dispensation would be equivalent to a total revocation. I have lately written on this subject to my nephew in Congress, who wished to have my permission to sanction such a party, to request that he would explain the motives of my conduct to those who had applied to him: to enforce the rule agt any member of your family or the friends of it, is, I assure you, my dear Sir, most painful, & I must rely upon your & their kindest interpretations of my conduct of which I have not now time to explain, for my excuse. Sincerely & affectly yrs