It is with sincere regret, that I learn from you that it is not possible to supply me with any particulars, respecting the early life of Genl Washington. The interest and value of the work would be greatly enhanced by such additions, but as these cannot be had I must do as well as I can. With the materials now on hand I shall be able to throw much light on the part he took in the French war. Govr Dinwiddie’s Letter Books, and the papers in the Plantation Office in London, have furnished me with numerous facts.

On the 14th of Novr 29 I received the following confidential communication from Judge Washington.

He said he knew not how his case might terminate—that he had always had an aversion to the customs attending such cases and wished them to be dispensed with in regard to him—and added:

     Permit me to acquaint you with your election to an honorary membership in the Peithessophian Society of Rutgers College. By the acceptance of which you will confer a favour on the association in whose name I now address you and oblige. Yours &c.

I left Mt Vernon in July, and after spending the intervening time in our mountainous country, I arrived at this place the day before yesterday. Your favor of the 7th inst. followed, but did not overtake me until within the last hour. 

     I left Mt Vernon in July and after spending the inter<ven>ing time in our mountainous Country, I arrived at this place the day before yesterday— Your favor of the 7th followed, but did not overtake me until well in the last hour.

In beginning to examine the papers in detail, I find great inconvenience in consulting the letters received by Gen. Washington. They are filed according to their names, but it is quite important, for every purpose of consultation that the whole mass should be arranged in strict chronological order. If you have no objection, therefore, I shall arrange them in this way, & have them bound in volumes. They will thus not only be more easily consulted, but be preserved in a better condition.

Your letter of the 17th was not received until the 29^th. I perceive that it was written at Bath, & put into the Post office at Charles Town.

     I going on with the house for the book¹ and papers the man that slate the house furnish the slate put it up for six dollars for evry ten feet I have received your letter and will attend to the order I have a sick famly my mother is very sick and silay osborn and old woman dolly is crasy like she was two or three years past george at the farm is sick Mr Rodges comments seeding the ry the 24 august I think that you had better write to him to now what time he will get done the ry timothy seed has not ben soen yet the

     You will please accept Bushrods and my united thanks for your kind consideration of us; we were indeed anxious to hear how you and our dear Aunt were after your rough journey and the heavy rains which we knew must have impeded your progress, and rendered the roads even worse than usual; we were much gratified to learn that you were benefited by bathing and using the water.

I have Just recd a letter from Messrs A. C. Cazenove & Co. informing me of the arrival of our long looked for wine, ordered as long ago as March 1828— Murdoch & Co. write me that this parcel of "finest, old, high coloured, London particular" is selected from the choicest in their possession, and I have reason to believe that our most sanguine anticipations of its quality will be fully gratified.

I should have written you a long time ago, if I had completed the duties of my last circuit, so as to give you all the results. But I am as yet scarcely free from all the cases, which have been under advisement.

     Having recd from the debtor legatees during the winter & this summer pretty respectable payments we are enabled to make a dividend of which I now notify the Creditor legatees. your dividend & share of Commissions, as well as mine, amounts to $772.10 for which I can send you a check on the Charlestown on recieving from you a letter stating your return to Audley from below. We leave this tomorrow for Bath. I wrote to cousin Carter about her dividend, which you no doubt will attend to. Believe me truly & affectly your

     On the other side is a refunding bond for you to execute together with at least one sufficient Surety.  Upon your forwarded the bond so executed (if by mail, the postage to be paid) to Mr William Brown, Cashier of the branch Valley bank of Virga. at Charlestown, Jefferson County, he will pay your draft for the sum stated in the Condition on the bond, viz $389.57.

     I am much gratified, my dear Sir, that you authorise me to anticipate the pleasure of having you, the other gentlemen, & the ladies of the fort to dine with me. Any day you may appoint will be convenient to us, & I hope it may suit you to come over before you remove to your encampment. Suppose you allow me to fix the day after tomorrow (tuesday), & if, in the mean time, you do not say otherwise, I will then expect you. I send Mrs M. a few apricots which she will do me the favor to accept— very sincerely & respectfully

     It is with regret & deep mortification that I feel myself compelled to decline your friendly & kind invitation to dine with you. In consequence of the attack in my breast the day I dined with Doct. Jackson, Mrs W. believes that a return of it would be the certain consequence of my going again. All my reasoning, & all my persuasions, fail to destroy, or even to allay, these apprehensions.

     Understanding this moment that your father in law is now with you, I must beg the favor of you to present my Compliments to him, & request that he will do me the favor to accompany you on thursday. respectfully &c.

I recd yesterday afternoon your favor of the 28th may. i do not recollect during the whole of my Judicial life that I was ever applied to for an injunction to stay waste. I confess that until I read your letter and examined the cases you refer to, I had supposed that, if it were a case of irrepable mischief, the plf had only to state an apparently good title, & to verify it by affadavit, to entitle him to the interposition of a court of equity. But the case of Storm vs. Mann and the one from 6 vez.

     At a meeting of the Board of Managers of the American Sunday School Union held on the evening of the 27th May last, you were unanimously elected <mutilated>Vice President of that Institution. <mutilated>ully

     The enclosed circular addressed t[o] the residuary legatees under the will of Genl Washigtn and the answer which accompanies it will explain to you the general nature of the Suit which Maj. Lewis & myself wish to engage in.

     Since the communication you were good enough to make to me, last winter, respecting the little legacy left, by our late Friend Mr George Gray, to the Children of my Brother Thomas Mason, I have, at the request of the only surviveing child, my nephew Gerard Mason, communicated thro' a Friend with his (Mr Gray's) Executor in Baltimore, Mr Wethered, on the subject—and find that a very singular difficulty exists, as to the payment of it— an extract of the will has been sent me, which is in the following words— "I give and bequeath unto such o

     Mr Small will oblige Mrs Washington by procuring for her such of the books mentioned in the enclosed lists as he may not have in his store, & encase the whole of Miss Austen’s novels cannot be obtained in Phila. he will please to import such as cannot– Mr Small will please import for her the Ladies Museum from Septr 1825. The books first mentioned will not be wanted for 3 or 4 weeks, which will afford Mr Small time in which to procure them.

     You will be surprised perhaps to receive a letter from me but I will state at once my reasons for taking this liberty, in the confidence that you will excuse the daughter of Judge Griffith for asking a favour of her father's best friend.

     The pecuniary difficulties that I labour under, with a large family dependent on my individual exertion, requires that I should use some exertion to procure an appointment, or situation, different from the poor one in which I am placed, & which I have resigned, after the first July; To your Influence then, my dear Sir, as my Relation & Friend, I appeal, and hope that I may meet with from you, that friendship I expect.

     I recd yesterday a letter from our friend Mrs Blodget, in which she requests me to address you upon the subject of the office she is most anxious to procure for Mr Smith, her nephew, and Son in law, and to ask your patronage and assistance to promote her wishes.

     I hasten, my dear Sir, to answer your favor of the 20^th recd. yesterday.