The grand Sachem, one of your acknowledged Uncles, not having been much accustomed to admiralty proceedings has propounded a question to me, about which he entertains some doubt, and wishes to know whether it has occurred in any of the Courts of my Circuit. I informed him that you would be the most likely of all our brethren to have met with the case & perhaps decided it, & I promised to mention it to you.

In a case of Capture, the only material testimony was a paper found in a chest belonging to one of the officers of the captured vessel. The chest had remained unlocked in the vessel some days in the Custody of the revenue officers, or of two of the sailors belonging to the Capturing vessel, after which time, the paper was found by the commanding officer of the Capturing vessel, who, on account of his interest refused to give evidence. Is a paper found this in an open chest to be recieved? The case does not state who offered the paper in Evidence which might perhaps be material.

So much for law; now for an agricultural topic. I have recieved a letter from my brother in law, Mr Turner, who resides not very distant from Nimrod Farrow. He says that he has conclusive proof & can adduce it, if called upon that his statement respecting crops made by him, of which some public notice has been taken, is untrue & altogether an imposition. Mr Turner had once an intention of addressing you upon the subject; but being a stranger to you unwilling to render himself conspicuous in this or any other way, he determined to mention the subject to me, knowing that you & I sometimes correspond. He says that he presumes you would communicate this statement of Farrows to the useful & honorable body of which you are President, unless admonished upon the occasion, on which account he has thought it his duty to interpose. Mr Turner is a man of honor & truth & may be relied upon for any statement he makes. I write you in some hurry, as we are in hourly expectation of seeing the british fleet, a part of which is about 30 miles below, and the rest was yesterday under sail. At the Fort opposite this place is stationed the Adams, some Gun boats & about 2000 men as I understand. I am apprehensive they will do great mischief should their ships pass the port. With best wishes I am very sincerely Dear Sir yr affect. Hl. Servt