I presume you are now at Mount Vernon & I hope in better health than when I heard from you in Philadelphia.

I have been endeavouring to arrange the correspondence for publication & find to my great surprize that I have not a single letter for the year 1787. There is a chasm from Decr 1786 to Feby 1888.¹ How this has happened I cannot imagine. Perhaps it may have been copied & not sent to me. As the correspondence of this period is of deep interest I think it necessary that it should appear with that which precedes and follows it. Such a hiatus as its omission would create would surprize every body. As I have no doubt of your concurring in this opinion I must ask the favor of you to have the letters of 1787 copied & sent to me by some opportunity. The steam boat I presume will always afford one.

I find the letters more numerous than I had expected; & think it advisable to omit those which were written during Braddocks war. They are filled with the distresses of the people & the incursions of the Indians & the misconduct of the militia. These subjects were very interesting at the period but have long ceased to be so. I think the volumes will be better received if they begin with the war of our revolution. The letters will then make three large volumes. I submit this matter to your consideration. My own opinion is decided on it. At any rate, as there is no connexion between the subjects I would suggest that the correspondence beginning in 1795 be postponed for subsequent consideration after trying the success of that which begins in 1775. I am my dear Sir yours