I came here on thursday last on a bed laid in the carriage & did not experience so much fatigue as I expected— Docr Dick was called in next day, who has had my case under serious consideration ever since— He requested a consultation with Docr Rose, which they commenced yesterday, & finished today, the result of which will be delivered me in writing before I quit Town, until I do, Docr Dick will attend me daily, & Docr Rose occasionally— They both agree that a water voyage to Norfolk & then in the bay as long as the weather will permit is not to be disp

     I wrote you a letter on the 15th this Month, since which I have been more unwell & confined to my room; but now, thank God, I have great reason to flatter myself with a perfect recovery.

     I have to apologize to you for not answering, before now, your most affectionate letter of the 25 Inst.

     In my letter of the 23d I wrote you respecting the indisposition of my three daughters, since which Jane has much recovered— Molly has had several relapses & is now very low indeed— Harriott was attacked last friday fortnight with the severest fits I ever saw, and has never recovered her senses since— She is too ill for me to flatter myself with her recovery, unless the great father of mercies should think proper to restore her to us; but if otherwise, I shall with calmness and resignation submit.

     On Thursday last I wrote a letter to my Mother from Alexandria which went in John Steels Vessel with the Jug of lamp Oil, a Sett of tongs & Shovel & a bundle of mountings for a spice cabinet that William Rice is making for my wife— In that letter I requested my Mother to inform you that a Seine could not be procured in Alexandria to suit your Shores, and as there would be difficulty & uncertainty of having one forwarded from Baltimore, I had determined to buy the twine & hire a man to weave one in alexandria, which he has engaged to have finished withi

     I returned here on Tuesday last from Prospect-Hill where the deranged State I found my business in there obliged me to spend some weeks— I had your mare brought to this place to go down to Walnut Farm with my Mother who will set off from this the day after tomorrow— She is very well gaited for a riding creature, and of sufficient size for the waggon or plough, but as you did not direct it, she was not tried in the latter way— She is four years old, not handsome, and has had the misfortune to loose one of her eyes— Since the receipt of your letters covering sundry orde

     We have been here ever since last Sunday week trying to get a passage down to Westmoreland, which the Doctor strongly recommends, and if the voyage so far does not disagree, he advises that we proceed farther on— After a great many fruitless attempts I have at last <g>ot a Vessel which will sail tom<o>rrow— <I> do not think there has been any considerable change either for the better or worse for some weeks past, except what has been occasioned by the easterly Stormes, which seem to have prevailed more than usual this Spring.

     When I wrote you last the Symptoms of my Wife's disorder had taken a favourable turn, & appearances were rather flattering; but for some days past she has been much more unwell, and I have very strong reasons to apprehend that another rising is forming on her lungs— indeed I am extremely alarmed about her, and now, more than ever satisfied that her lungs are seriously attacked— I am just dispatching a messenger for the Doctor, which compells me to write less to you than I should otherwise do— My children are all well, and I am much better than I could, circumstanc

     Colo. Thos Lee going to Alexandria early tomorrow affords me an opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of yours of the 15 Inst.

     Last wednesday evening Oliver delivered me your affectionate letter, for which, as well as for the trouble you were at in sending him to inquire about my poor wife's health, I return you my most grateful thanks— I should be relieved from the greatest distress, and almost too happy, if I had only reason to believe that your surmises respecting my dear Wifes Situation was well grounded; but on the contrary, I am well persuaded that her lungs were affected at the time Docr Banham paid her his first visit last fall, and the progress of the disorder was merely suspended by

     I have not heard from you since your letter of the 11 Feby, and the unhappy Situation of my family has prevented me from answering your letter until now— The various disorders that have oppressed by poor wife have been daily putting on more alarming Symptoms, and of course my necessary attention to her prevents me from thinking of any thing else— Even the Doctrs begin to discover their apprehension as to her recovery— I wish I could flatter myself with her recovery; but present appearances forbid it— She has been now five weeks unable even to turn herself in her bed,

     Yours of the 11 Inst.

     I hoped long before now to have executed the little business you intrusted to me, but alas I have had no time to attend to any business for some time past out of my poor wife's chamber— She has been violently attacked twice since delivery, of the first she apparently recovered, but of the last she is confined to her bed, and so extremely reduced that I have no right to flatter myself with her recovery.

     A few days after the receipt of your letter of the 10th last Month enclosing some orders for me to collect for you, my young Man sat off for Westmoreland, and has not yet returned, which put it out of my power to have them presented; but as soon as he returns <th>at business shall be attended t<o>— I should have presented them myself, had my wife's Situation permitted me to leave her; but I trust I shall not be long confined on her account, as she was delivered on Sunday last of a Girl & both are doing well— The order you gave on Thos Paten has been mi

     I am sorry to inform you that I have been very unsuccessful in collecting the money for the drafts you enclosed me some time ago— Mr Lampkin & myself have frequently made application, but always met with a put off from some of them— Messr Patton & Dykes paid their £7 on the 3d this Month, and John Mandeville his £12 yesterday— Thos Patton says he paid Mr Swan £7 by your order and only owes £7 now, which he promises to pay between this and Monday next— McPherson always makes fair promises, but holds back the money, I pushed him very hard yesterday, & mean t

     On the 19th of last month I received by Post three letters from you, one dated the 7th covering Pollards answer, and the general court commission, and two others dated the 12th, one of which mentioned Genl Lee's having paid Mr Chas lee £700 for me, and the other covering a draft on Mr Watson for 120 dollars and a request that I would purchase and forward to Mr Richardson sundry articles therein mentioned, all which I should punctually have attended to immediately, if my business had permitted me to come to Town which never happened untill last Tuesday evening— Finding

     I came here a few days ago with an intention to taking the Stage to Richmond for the double purpose of spending a few days with you, and to try to Sell Walnut Farm; but being rather indisposed, and the weather promising to turn very severe, I have thought it best to decline the journey for the present, and to depend upon your friendly assistance in this business, which I know you will willingly lend— The Setting of the Assembly & federal Court will naturally draw together in Richmond such a number of people from all different parts of the Country, that there will

     I wrote you a few lines by last Post informing you of the contents of my Mother's letter from Philadelphia written on the 24 May and the Boy who carried your letter to the Post Office brought me another from my Mother dated the 29 May, in which She says my Sister's health is not altered in the smallest degree for the better, and that they are to leave Philadelphia immediately on their way to Rhode Island— indeed, my dear Brother, I am very uneasy on account both of my Sister & Mother; my Sister's complaint I apprehend is confirmed & incurea

     Your letter of the 20 March was delivered me on the 4th of this month whilst I was deeply engaged in packing up and moving my furniture from Walnut Farm to give up the place agreeable to contract to the person who is to live there this year, which is one reason why I have not sent you an answer before now, altho' that should not have prevented me if I had not conceived the answer rendered unnecessary in consequence of a letter my Mother wrote you from Haywood, which you have doubtless got long before now— When my Mother got to Haywood on her way from Richmond, she fou

     Well knowing what pleasure it will give you to releive me from embarrassment of any kind, I, without hesitation, take the liberty to ask your advice about some business I am perplexed with, and am inadequate to determine upon satisfactorily to myself— in consequence of the death of Mrs Lee (the Widow of Richard Henry Lee decd) it is necessary that her dower negroes should be divided directly agreeable to the Will of the said Richd H. Lee, and I am doubtful whether this division should be made by the administrator of Mrs Lee, or the Executors of Richard H. Lee.

     I am now at <Sir> Francis Thornton's on the Fall Hill where I arrived last night from Culpepper & Ora[n]ge— I waited on Colo.

     Your letter of the 26 Septr never reached me until last monday, or I should have acknowledged the receipt of it before now— I am exceedingly obliged to you for the trouble you have taken respecting my advertisements, and especially for your Solicitude about my Affairs— Many Applications have been made to purchase, lease & rent my Farm, but none of them were wrorth my attention— I am just informed that there are two Gentlemen desirous of purchasing it, and I am inclined to believe that I shall shortly be able to contract with one of the two for it, but whether I di

     I should have written to you long ago, but my Wife has been so weak & unwell ever since we came home that I could not leave her long enough to ascertain with tolerable accuracy the number of Fruit Trees at Bushfield— The Overseer, who has counted the large peach Orchard by my directions, says it contains 1350 Trees— there is also a small orchard of them near where Stonum lived, and a great variety in different parts of the farm— There are two Apple Orchards that have bee<n> bearing a considerable time, and a young one of Bo<mutilated> Genetin

     I have been flattering myself for some months past that I should soon get the various business in which I am concerned so arranged as to have been permitted to have spent some little time with you at your own house; but all my exertions to accomplish this favourite scheme have been bafled by sickness in my own and my good friends families— Our dear Mother has been very unwell for some months past with a breast Complaint, which, thank God, has in a great measure, yielded to her great care, and the Docrs prescriptions— Our very worth[y] friend and relation of Haywood, h

     You will now receive enclosed the Power of Attorney altered and put exactly in the form you desired, which I have been very much puzzled to get done in time to go down by Mr Jones— After I had picked out the Sheep & Cattle at Bushfield that were to go down by your Man, and had settled the mode of conducting the Journey, I satt of[f] for Haywood upon the above business, leaving orders with my Overseer to deliver your Man four of our likeliest Cows which he seemed to think he could very easily drive; however, on my return from Haywood, I meet the drove from Bushfiel