I left Mt Vernon in July and after spending the inter<ven>ing time in our mountainous Country, I arrived at this place the day before yesterday— Your favor of the 7th followed, but did not overtake me until well in the last hour.

I left Mt Vernon in July, and after spending the intervening time in our mountainous country, I arrived at this place the day before yesterday. Your favor of the 7th inst. followed, but did not overtake me until within the last hour. 

I recd your letter of the 2d inst. in Phila. but was prevented, by a severe indisposition, from answering it from that place, and even now, I can do no more than repeat the undiminished confidence I feel in your ability to execute the work in the best possible manner, and in your fidelity to bring it out in a way most¹ advantageous for the pecuniary interest of the parties concerned consistently with our contract —

I have to acknowledge the rect of your letter of the 6th of Augt which, having had to travel after me from Alexandria to this part of the state did not reach me 'till long after its date.

     I have to acknowledge the rect of your letter of the 6th of Augt which having had to trail after me from Alexa. to this part of the state did not reach me till long after its date.

I duly recd your favor of the 4th from Phila. and within a few days thereafter, I had the balance of the papers packed in a box, and sent to Alexandria, where they arrived Just in time to be put on board to the schooner Alexandria as she was leaving the wharf. I shall not feel entirely at ease until I hear of the safe arrival of both parcels, which be so good as to announce to me as soon as the event is known. 

Under the act of the 5th of June 1794, for punishment of certain crimes, the ship "Union,"¹ which had been fitted as a privateer in James river, was arrested by due process of law, in consequence of special orders of President Washington to Henry Lee Governor of Virginia, the conduct of Mr David M. Randolph, Marshal of that district, was on that occasion approved of by Genl Washington, as signified by him in a letter to Governor Lee about the month of July or Augt 1794, and his thanks to the marshal were communicated to him accordingly by the Governor.

As you pass through New York, you will please call upon Mrs Hamilton & recieve from her the original letters from Genl Hamilton to Genl Washington, which I sent her some years ago to have copied. This letter will be considered as an authority for their delivery to you. With great esteem I am very respectfully dear Sir yr mo. ob. servt

your favor of the 7th is this moment recd, and in two hours from this, I expect to be on my road to Mt Vernon— Avoiding any unxpected impediments, I hope to be at Mt V. at dinner on Wednesday the 16th.

In great haste I have only time to add that I am Dr Sir very sincerely & respectfully yrs

I recd yesterday a letter from the Chief Justice prior to his rect of mine, and written in consequence of the one which you had addressed to him. He observes, that he thinks it impossible for you to execute the work you contemplate upon the plan proposed without the facility of frequent recurrence to the papers. I am pleased to find that we so entirely concur in opinion on that subject without previous consultation. You are therefore at liberty to prepare for packing up the books & papers, and to proceed to the completion of the work as soon as you please.

Since the rect of your favor of the 17th inst. I have had every moment of my time so intensely employed in attending to a cause of peculiar interest & perplexity that I could not withdraw my mind from it with sufficient freedom to devote it usefully to other business. This must be my apology for my long silence.

The difficulty you mention of progressing with your work whilst the papers continue at Mount Vernon presented itself to my mind at the time when your first proposition was made, & it was that which mainly operated with me to decline that offer.

I recd yesterday an answer from the Chief Justice to the letter I wrote to him on the same day that mine to you bore date. He informs me that he answered that letter on the day he received it, which answer of course miscarried, in a manner quite unaccountable, between Richmond & Alexa.— I have only now to say, in respect to the proposition contained in your last letter, that we accept it.

Your letter of the 12th Sept. came to my hand sometime during the present month in consequence of my long absence from home; & being one of a large bundle of letters which had been accumulating, it has only been perused within the last hour. This, I trust, will be accepted as a satisfactory apology for my silence.

I shall write to the Chief Justice today & state to him your proposition; as soon as I receive his answer, you shall hear from me conclusively, & I hope satisfactorily. I am very respectfully Sir yr mo. ob. Servt

Your letter of the 26th January was handed me by Mr Justice Story, and I owe you an apology for the delay which has taken place in answering it. The truth is that, although living under the same roof, the important cases which the Judges have had to examine and discuss in conference, diverted the attention of the C. Justice & myself from the subject, insomuch, that it is but lately that we had an opportunity of conversing upon it. 

     Your letter of the 26th Jany was delivered to me by Mr Just. Story & I owe you an apology for the delay which has taken place in answering it. The truth is that at the living under the same roof the important cases which the Judges have had to examine & discuss in conference diverted the attention of the C. Justice & myself from the subject insomuch that it is but lately that we had an opportunity of conversing upon it.

Since my return from my northern Circuit I recd your favor of the 2d april, which had been lying some time in the Alexandria post office.