I am happy in being able to remove [your] the uneasiness, expressed in your letter of the 9th, respecting what has been done. – Mr. Morgan is Satisfied. I explained fully to him what I long before had stated to him on the Subject. – I hope no censure will attach to Mr. Marshall but that I alone may be considered in fault. tho' I confess I cannot conceive of there being any thing dishonorable in the business.
Your two letters under the dates of Dec 22 & Dec. 27, came to hand in course of the mail. I have recently receivd two letters from the Chief Justice, in which he permits me to conclude the first vol, at the end of the 13th Chapter, terminating with the War of 1763, & to carry the Surplus to the 2d vol. He also desires me to strike out two or three long notes, which he designates & requests me to suggest to him such others as I think might be dispensed with. I write to him, next Mail, fully on the subject.
Enclosed you will find the original letter written by the General. Mr. Hamilton, editor of the Lancaster Journal, informs me in his letter to me says, – "It was found among the papers of the late Dr. Smith of your City, and was handed to me by his son Charles Smith Esq" Mr. H. has not informed me to whom it was written, nor can it be discovered by the letter itself, but it may be fairly presumed it was addressed, under cover, to the late Rev. Dr. — I hope it may be useful. —
Sometime time ago you published a letter from Gen. Washington to a friend of his, written during the Indian War. you introduced the letter by observing that it was copied from the “original” & that if the compiler1 of the Hist. desired would be furnished with it on application. I sent the printed letter to Judge Washington & he has this day wrote to me as follows, viz
Extract
["]Mount Vernon Nov. 24, 1803
I have the satisfaction to acknowledge the Rect. of your esteemed favour of the 24th. I regret to learn I sincerely & learn with regret the loss you & Mrs. Washington have Sustained by the demise of the worthy Col. Blackburn. – The moment I recd. your letter I addressed a letter to the Editor of the Lancasr. Journal. – I assure you that all the Seaport towns from Norfolk in Va to Portland in Maine have been visited by active agents beside most of the large inland towns; Mr.
By a Mr. Wessels of Baltimore, who goes to that city in the Mail Stage of this day, I have sent to the care of Mr. G. Hill, Bookseller, Minots History, in 2 vols. with a request that he will immediately forward them, to Alexandria, as directed. I have written to David Poe Jun. P. Master Up. Marlboro Md, Four times & cannot get an answer from him relative to the Sunscribers he has obtained. This day I shall take a house for my Office. I have made a [illegible] contract for a Supply of Paper. Mr. Morgan has written to you.
Your favour bearing date the 18th Inst. was duly Recd. accept my thanks for your promise of particular attention to my request, – and be assured I shall esteem myself highly honored by should your choice devolve on me. —