The sudden & unexpected termination of the Circuit Court in April prevented my acknowledging your favor of the 9th of that month, whilst I was in Phila., and many circumstances, unnecessary to detail, have united to postpone the performance of this duty since my return home. I beg leave now to offer you my apology, and to request you to accept my thanks for the pamphlet which accompanied your letter.

     My official duties, which for a few days past, have been very intense, must be my apology for not having sooner acknowledged & thanked you, as I now do, for your polite letter with the enclosures— I shall read the Copy designed for me, with pleasure, &, I am persuaded with advantage to myself; the o[t]her I will forward to Chief Justice Marshall as soon as I return to Mount Vernon— I am very respectfully Dear Sir Yr mo. ob.