I was extremely sorry to learn from your last that you were again indisposed. This has been generally the most sickly season I have ever known, but I will hope that the frosts have had a favourable influence on your health as they have had on that of most others. You were certainly right to return, and I hope your endeavours to meet your brethren in February will succeed.

I must remind you of the chasm in that part of the correspondence copied by me which I mentioned in a former letter. In looking over the copied letters for the purpose of final arrangement I find there is another chasm arising from the loss of a few sheets which must I think have taken place at Mount Vernon. It is the copy of those letters which were written just before the capture of Fort duquêsne. The last letter I have is to Colonel Bouqet of the 28th of July 1758, and of that I have only the first part. It ends with the words, “if my presence could be dispensed with for a day or two of which you are the best judge.”

It will be necessary to copy the residue of this letter, as well as the other letters of 1758 & bring them with you to Washington. I hope you will also have copied the few letters which I omitted & of which I wrote to you last summer. With the best wishes for your health & happiness, I am my dear Sir yours truely