I recieved, the day before yesterday, a small box addressed to me, on opening which, I found in it letters from mr Eccleston of Lancaster England, for yourself, Judge Marshall & myself. the one to me informed me that the box contained a medal of Genl Washington for each of us, and the one under cover to me being uppermost, I took it out, without disturbing the package of what remained in the box. mr Chevallié passing on yesterday evening, I got him to take charge of the box (which I nailed again) and to deposit it with mr Gadsden Alexa. subject to your order.

     Th: Jefferson presents his respectful salutation's to Judge Washington and incloses him a package which came to Th: J. in a very voluminous mail. opening the letters hastily & without always reading the superscription, he had opened this and read some lines in M. de la Fayette's letter before he discovered it not to be meant for him. looking at the cover & finding his mistake he instantly re-incloses it with an assurance on his honor that he did not see a word beyond the 4th or 5th line in La Fayette's letter and not one in the other.

The bearer hereof, mr Ca<mutilated> from Holland, of distinction & m<mutilated> tour through Virginia, of seaci<mutilated> chief, which has a celebrity of it<mutilated> -cieves from it’s master, I take t<mutilated> -mission for the indulgence of his <mutilated> you be perfectly merits any attent<mutilated> goodness to show him. he is well h<mutilated> -self.  I have the honour to be <mutilated> Your most obed[t]. & most hum[ble svt.]

     I now inclose you the record in the case of Dickenson v. Paulett & Marks. mr Marks, by purchasing all Paulett's right, stands completely in his shoes. his first wish is to obtain a confirmation of his right to the land.

     Some months ago a subpoena in Chancery at the suit of mr Banks¹ was served on me as former governor of Virginia, calling on me & others not named (but I suppose the Counsellors of that day) to appear— presuming it was for some act done on behalf of the commonwealth I wrote to the governor to know whether I must defend, or whether the executive would not undertake it for the Commonwealth, as they were possessed of the records & materials of defence. in his answer he assures me it shall be defended by the executive.

     I presume I am not mistaken in supposing that an injunction is the proper and most effectual mode of preventing a person from drowning a millseat of mine by raising his dam below it. with this view I have prepared the inclosed bill & documents, and trouble you with them to procure & send me an injunction. the def. being very actively employed at present in raising his dam, the case was too urging for me to wait till our next court (monday sennight) to compleat my order, on which there will be no dispute.