I yesterday recd your letter of the 28th Ulto which I hasten to acknowledge. your conduct in relation to the sale of Rock hall meets my entire approbation, and entitles you, in my opinion to the thanks instead of the complaints of mr Alexander. your right to bid cannot as I think be questioned, and if, by doing so, you have raised the price of the land, I can easily concieve why other bidders should feel displeased, but I am altogether at a loss to imagine upon what ground the heir of Colo. Lee can be disatisfied at such a result. At all events my dear Sir, you have nothing to reproach yourself with having acted in my opinion with very great discretion & Judgment in the whole business.

I cannot for a moment anticipate a successful issue to Mr Alexander application to set aside the sale, Altho I should have no objection to it, if I supposed that it would, at another time, command as much as would discharge the debt due to us. The present sale will fall short of that many thousand dollars which we must wade through another suit perhaps to obtain. Mr Alexander however has only himself to blame for what has happened.

Mrs Lewis has not yet returned from Baltimore— when may we expect you? Believe me my dear Sir very sincerely & affectly yrs