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.

I interrupt your agreeable Law Engagements with a Bagatelle. Our agricultural Society have desired me to review my little Book on Plaister of Paris, for Republication; as it [is] out of Print. I wish to add all the modern Facts I can procure, but find everybody lazy & uncommunicative. I have been 2 Years endeavouring to collect Facts out of Loudon County Virginia (as there must be some Balm in Gilead) but have hitherto failed. It is only when the Maggot bites, or to relieve Ennui, that I get at such Subjects.