The last of Decr or very early in Jany I wrote you a letter which went immediately by a Special Messeng. to Dumfries to the care of Mr Carr with a request that if no immediate private oppertunity offered to send it by the next Post, I also wrote a Letter and sent to Fredericksbg to go by Post two post days past, it got up too late, but undoubtedly went by the next— these letters I flatter myself you have recd— this Letter with one from your Mama, inclosing one from your Aunt Smith, are all committed to the care of Mr Nevison who is going directly to Baltimore and has promised to give them a safe conveyance from thence, so that I hope they will get to yr hands— In my Letter sent to Fredericksbg to go by Post I mentioned that hearing Mr Rouand had money in the hands of Mr W. Hunter—Mercht in Alexandria, and that he had also an Authority to draw on his Brother in New York, I wrote to him for an order on Mr Hunter to pay you in Philadelphia 40 or 50 pounds which request Mr Rouand very readily complyed with and I inclos'd the order to Mr Hunter at the same time I wrote and to go through the Channel of the post, I wrot Mr Hunter if the order was good that I beged he would make the remittance as quickly as possable, and if it was not, that he would inform me, as Mr Rouand informd me he would immediately draw a Bill (which by the by I shoud have prefered in the first instance, if I had not have had some doubts about the propriety of the business) many here tell me that such bills are negociated publickly and prefered to Bills on Europe, of this I had desired you to inform me the truth— My letter by the way of Dumfries, and after that by the way of Fredericksbg I must suppose have come to hand and for many things I must refer you to them one thing only I must in this letter repeat; let me know the whole advances made you by others, and now unpaid as far as comes with in yr knowledge, and in doing this state a regular Acct for Money recd and money paid, and Ball: due—that I may suffer no man to be injured in his purs or myself in character— in my letters above mentioned I expressed some uneasiness at Making applications to Men who in all probebility were themselves distresed, or being under obligations to those I had so little acquaintance with— besides this that much injury attended the reimbursing them— if Rouands order suckceeds I am certain, I can afterwards be in time to make remittances upon better terms to my Self, and without the mortifying circumstance of yr wants being known to any— I am impatient to answer your Letters of the 23d of Decr and 1st of Jany last under the same cover I recd them open on the 29th Jany they were directed by Mr Chas Lewis— I am very sorry that my letter should have led you into a belief that I thought my life in any immediate dainger, I have not for this many Months past injoyed a tolorable state of that good hea[l]th I formerly did— I find that every little cold I ketch disorders me, and that what I used to indulge in freely and without any injury now affects me— besides this I am growing to a time of life that points out a chainge and that a Man ought not to flatter himself to many more years of added life— but I have no cause to think¹ from my state through the fall, or at present, for I am now in tolorable health and good sperits, that I am, or think myself in any dainger. I wish to see my scheems with respect to my Sons accomplished, or if I do not, to see my eldest Son finished in his S[t]udies, and intimately acquainted with the state of my affairs so as to stand in my Shoes to finish upon this occasion (the greatest I can ever have) what I may leave unfinished, I meant no more then this, tho I am unhappy I said any thing on the subject as it has been the cause of giving you pain— the Mouth of Mattox & this neck on Saterday last was visited by 3 Barges & an Armed Sloop, two of the Barges went up Mattox and rob[b]ed old Mrs Butler, old Mrs Martin Danl Fitzhugh, Mrs Robersons & John Ashtons Quarters of every thing they could lay there hands on, they carryed of[f] many Negroes, and some of them certainly against there consent the other barge landed at Loves Quarter and plundered and from thence passed W. A. Washingtons Quarter at Popes where they could get nothing they went to Nic: Muses plundered him insulted his person and went on board, and that night moved downwards— I believe there retreat from the land was precepetated by a little expedient Billy & my Self fell on— as soon as I heard of them, and had dispached messengers to call the Militia we got our horses and rode down towards Bridg Creek before we got there they were passing through his field up to the Houses at Popes Quarter— we call'd to one of the Overseers to ride on and hasten the Militia and ourselves rode rather towards them, which seam'd to ala<rm> them a good deal, but having a very extens<mutilated> prospect, and seeing nothing, they at length began a prett<y> smart fire, we then rode towards the gate & made a halt they passed quickly over to Muses took of what they could in a Hurry and went onboard opposite swearing all the time that the Militia was at hand for that they saw some of them— all that Muse could say to the contrary could gain with them no credit— I have wrote two or three letters to the Genl Since you got to Philadelphia the last was inclosed to you by the Wagoner that carryed the Hemp, did you recieve it & convey it safe, for if the Genl has recd no letter from me I must appear ungreatfull, and if he has I cannot dect for recieving no answer, as his politeness exclusive of other considerations induces him to return answers— when you write by post I would still recommend your writing by the Post to Fredericksbg as I send up once a fortnight— your Sister is not delivered but it is expected every day, your Mother and the Granny in watyng— Our Love & best wishes attend you my dear Bushrod—Your Aff. Father