In answer to your letter, I beg leave to assure you that neither from the papers of Genl Washington, nor from any conversation with him during his life, had I cause to suspect that he considered your father as having been unfriendly to him at any period during the revolutionary war or afterwards. When my father sent me to Philadelphia in the wither of 81-2 with a view to study of the law, the General happened to be in this city, and kindly undertook to superintend the necessary arrangements for my establishment.

     You ask me to give you a detailed, choronological Sketch as near as I can of my life. This is impossible at this time & at this place. I will however, as well as my memory will enable me, and the uninterrupted occupation of my time by my official duties, endeavour to answer your various questions, leaving it to you to put them into method.

     I ret'd¹ to Town yesterday Evening and in Fredg, found² your Note of the, 6 of august in the Post office of that place; this will account for its not having been sooner answered[.] I am this moment furnished with yours of the 3d Instant. The language of the first gave me some degree of astonishment, as it was unexpected, so I am conscious it was unmerated & I therefore take the liberty of enclosing it back to you..

Since I came to Virginia, I have generally been so buryed in Retirement as to want opportunities of writing to Philadelphia— You Sir, are the first, to whom my respects are due; permit me to return you my sincere thanks and acknowledgment for the attention and politeness with which you favored me whilst under your care, but most of all for those advantages which I derived from your friendly and instructive Communications in the line of my Studies— Favors which associate in them both utility and complaisance make the deepest impressions on my heart, and fill it with affecti

     Had I not a great deal of fortitude to leave Philadelphia on Good Friday, although so much happiness was promised me if I had staid?

     There is no one to whom I am so much indebted in the Letter way as yourself, and I'll assure there are few Debtors who take so much pleasure in discharging these accounts As I do when you are Creditor— I am not only contented with repaying you Letter for Letter, but the Bargain always turns out so much in my favor, that I think myself called upon by Gratitude to acknowledge the superior obligation You confer.

To anyone but yourself my first words would utter murmurs of complaint for this long, unexpected and disagreeable silence; but as I am too well acquainted with your sentiments of affection & attention to your children to concieve that anything but adverse accidents could have produced this seeming neglect, I must only lament as a misfortune what I cannot censure as a fault.