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?

     I wrote you by Mr McClure as Merchant of Baltimore about three weeks past in which letter I think I inform'd you that I return'd from Berkley abt the 21st of decr.

Some days past I heard that Colo. Richd Henry Lee was going to Philadelphia & wrote immediate a letter to you and sent it to Chantilly, since I have seen Colo. Lee and understood that this day he was to set out, I sent yesterday to desire Colo. Lee would call here as he went along if he does call this letter is intended to go by him if he does not, it will be sent by a vessel that is going to the head of Elk— in my letter which Colo.

     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.

     I got to this place this day too late to write by the post but a Servant of Mr Chas Carters is this instant setting of to Philadelphia after a Chariott as I am told— I am short of time to say more then that I am thus far on my way to Berkley to settle some plan for regular remittances (but if your affairs will not admit of waiting till you recieve remittances or hear from me from Berkley) you must close with Mr Mead upon his terms till I can fix a plan more conducive to yr happiness and my interest— having wrote you full

I had the pleasure to recieve your favour of the 21st Jany by Mr Lee which he was so obliging as to send by a Servt on the 8th Inst— it gives us infinite pleasure to hear from you frequently and to hear you are well, I have not the smallest doubt but that you apply your time properly, in persuit of knowledge and that the future advantages you will gain by it will amply repay you for your present labours, gladden the hearts of your parents, and be of service to your Country, inducements strong enough excite exercion in a less reflecting mind then you

You will be surprized perhaps at receiving a letter from me—but if the end is answered for which it is written, I shall not think my time miss-spent. Your Father, who seems to entertain a very favourable opinion of your prudence, & I hope, you merit it: in one or two of his letters to me, speaks of the difficulty he is under to make you remittances.

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.

Your Mother began her letter, to which this is annexed, before the arival of Phill.

Necessity obliges me to give you my promissary Note instead of the deposit of a hundred Guineas— I will take it up as soon as I can.

Permit me to recommend my Nephew to you—not only as a student requiring your instruction—but to your attentions as a friend. His youth and inexperience may require it, and I perswade myself his sensibility & gratitude will make you every return which may be in his power.

The bearer Mr Bushrod Washington—a Nephew of mine—is sent at his own desire to this City to study the Law— His Father having requested me to get him properly fixed, it would give me much pleasure to see him placed under your care, if it is convenient to you to take another student.