I had the pleasure some days ago to receive your friendly letter of the 20th Ulto which company, at that time & for many days afterwards, prevented me from sooner answering.

     I can easily imagine how highly Mrs Desaussure must have been gratified by the visit to her mother & friends, after so long, and so distant a seperation from them. I sincerely hope that whilst you are both enjoying the happiness it is so natural you should find in the bosom of your friends, the change of climate & scene will contribute to the renovation & establishment of your & her health. I know that the air of Columbia is salubrious as much so perhaps as that of any other of the southern towns; but still it is not exactly that of Morristown, and the high Country sorrounding it.

     I must acknowledge, my good friend, that as I proceeded in your letter, I experienced a sad disappointment. I took it for granted, whilst perusing the early part of it, that it was your intention to appoint some day when we might expect once more the pleasure of seeing you & Mrs D. at Mount Vernon. From the time you contemplate commencing your Journey homewards, I see that this could not happen as I¹ shall then be on my Circuit. I must therefore be satisfied with meeting you elsewhere, and I sincerely thank you for the arrangement you have made for insuring it.

     I expect to be at Trenton on the 1st of October & to remain there two or three days, whence I shall return to Philadelphia and expect to continue at that place 'till about the 1st of November, where I shall anticipate the pleasure of our meeting.

     I have always heard a high character of the N. york bench & bar, which stands well confirmed by the reports of their state decisions, and the sample which the latter has exhibited at the Supreme Court of the United States. But it is truly gratifying to find collected at that bar once a year a constellation of mighty talents from Main to Georgia; this was literally the case at the last Session, where we listened with delight, and with improvement to Webster from the one, & Bariann from the other extremety of the Atlantic States, each intermediate State furnishing the quota, so that it was difficult to decide which could claim the Superiority. N. Jersey was not represented at this assemblage of great men, and yet how ably would our friend Stockton have done this had he been present?

     With Complts & best wishes to Mrs D. and the fair Octavia, who I am anxious to see, I am My dear Sir very truly your faithful & affect. Servt