I returned home the day before yesterday after an absence of about four months. It was my intention not to address you until I could get time to forward you my report of the decisions made on my late Circuit, many of which are highly interesting. But as the business of General Washingtons estate, which will in a few days be brought on for a final hearing before the Court now sitting in Alexa., will engage all my attention for some time, and as no time ought to be lost which may enable you to repair the loss occasioned by the fire in Boston, I have thought it best to attend at once to that business although I shall thereby tax you with two letters instead of one.

The letters now enclosed together with those forwarded from Phila. contain all your reports to me since June 1822, and it will afford me great pleasure to know that they will contribute to secure to the publick the benefit which may certainly be anticipated from Masons next volume.

Whilst I was in Phila. I recd a letter from our friend Mrs Ledger strongly urging me to vote for young Caldwell as our Clerk. I assured her most truly of the pleasure it would afford me to oblige her if I were not restrained from doing so by a Sense of publick duty & also by a promise to a most deserving man & one who would be a comfort to the Judges individually & a credit to the Court. I stated very candidly that I thought the publick too deeply interested in the preservation of the archives & records of the Supreme Judicial tribunal of the Nation & their orderly arrangement to suffer as to entrus<t> them to the care of so young a man as the one she patronized. Knowing your friendship to this lady I should almost tremble for my friend Griffith if I did not also know the exalted principles by which your conduct is always governed. If Justice Thompson should vote with us Mr G. will undoubtedly be appointed to the Office. Do not omit to present me in the most friendly (I was very near saying Affectionate) terms to Mrs Ledger & believe me to be most sincerely yr Affect. friend