The calamitous fire in Boston on wednesday destroyed all the papers of Mr Mason’s third volume of his reports, which was to have been put to press on monday next— He had the original opinions, & except in one or two cases I have not a single copy. My object now is to restore, as well as I may, the less elaborate opinions, for as to all the others, they are beyond my vail & ability— For this purpose I must beg you to send me, if you have them with you at Philadelphia, the semiannual abstracts, which I have sent you, since June 1822— By means of them & my minutes of the arguments, I hope to be able to recover some useful materials—¹ If you will please to enclose them to me by mail at an early day I shall take it as a great favour; & I will take care to return them to you, when we meet next winter at Washington— I understand some opinions delivd by you during your present term are in print. Can you send me the newspapers?

I have had considerable business this autumn, & in a few weeks hope to be able to send you the abstract of them— next week I hold a term in Rhode Island— I was unable to go in to Maine in consequence of a very severe Rheumatism in the muscles of my left shoulder, which confined me to my house for a fortnight— I am almost, but not quite recovered from its effects. Believe me very respectfully & affectionately yours