I had the pleasure, my much loved wife to recollect yesterday your exceptional letter of the 20th and intended to answer it in the morning after my return from Court, so that it might go off by the mail of today. But I was detained by a cause under trial so late at night, that this could not be done; I did not return to my lodgings until near 11 o'clock. You complain my dearest love that I do not write often enough to you; but this is indeed without cause.

     I recd your letter my dearest wife of the 15th many days after the date of it, and have been not a little puzzled to decide whether it would be best to address mine to you at Rippon Lodge or Mount Vernon, as you intended to remain only a few days with your mother; I shall however direct this to the latter place presuming that before this time you have returned.