I Have not Had, this long while, a letter from you, But my inquiries after you Have kept up a kind of Communication— the departure of a frigate affords me a More direct opportunity to advise you, and to Request an Answer By the dispatches which, no doubt, will Be Sent Early in the Spring— Every particular Respecting yourself and our friends will be very welcome.

Your letter of the 4 Inst is Just handed to me by your nephew— Mr Jno Washington: enclosing in— from Mr Dade, who no doubt informed you of my disposition to coopperate with you in any measure relative to the Jefferson Land, as far as I was authorized. He informs me that your Nephew B.C. Washington agrees to give $550 to which I have no hesitation in agreeng So far as I may be interested; he being restricted as Tenants usually am in the use of Timbar I hope you may Succeed in obtaining the Consent of the Legatees to a Compromise.

At the request of my mother, to whom was addressed your letter of the 2nd ultimo, I communicate to you her wish upon the subject you submitted for her Consideration. The recourse had by the Executors to a Court of Chancery, with a view of fixing either upon the Representatives of Colo.

     Your printed circular letter of the 2d of the present month, was not receiv'd until within a few days past, or it should have been sooner attended to. The reasons offerd in that letter are sufficiently cogent to induce us without hesitation to give our assent that you should be vested with full powers to dismiss the suit against the representatives of Col. Lee, provided the land in question can be sold at $25 per acre, one half to be paid in hand the balance in three equal annual payments, the purchaseer giveing bond with approved security.

Your Circular I have but just received owing to my Absence from Town, Otherwise it would have been answered in due time.

     The business it relates to you must be better capable in judging of, than I can be, therefore I leave it for you to act on, as you may think best for the parties concerned— I am Gentn your very Obt Servt

     Two years has elapsed <mutilated> upon the same inquiry; which will be <mutilated> matter of this Letter. The friendly promptitude with which you answered my former, induces me to hope, that you will not be offended at my importunity.

Your favor of the 12th inst: covering the managers drft for $2000 has been received, and having exchanged the N. Carolina notes for such other notes as will be received in the bank at Norfolk, I shall deposit the money there on monday next as you request.

A low State of Health prevented me from attending the annual meeting of the Dismal Swamp Company, And although I requested a Gentleman who was going there to have a Draught made out for the Dividend for Genl Washington's Estate he omitted it. Today I obtained a meeting of the managers and have now the pleasure of inclosing you a Dft on the agent for 2,000$ with which Dividend you will be pleased.

Having been unexpectedly called to this place to visit a sick Friend has prevented me from acknowledging the Receipt of your Favor of last Month. I will willingly act as your Attorney at the Meeting of the Proprietors of the Dismal Swamp Company to be held at Suffolk on the first Thursday in May next, or in any other manner I can serve you.

I have been waiting since the Reciept of your kind Letter for the Return of my Son who is out on a Summer Excursion, & as the Weather has been bad, I expect he will prolong his Absence. When he returns I will endeavour but I do not believe it will be possible for me to give any extensive Account of my Responsibilities in the Country. I have abandoned the Hope of accomplishing it, as they are scattered thro' every Quarter of the State, & no regular or any Account kept.

Yesterday I selected out of a Neighbor's Flock, having none in my own fit for Transportation, a Number of Tunis Sheep, to be sent to S. Carolina by Mr Vaughan, for several Friends there. I set apart the best Ram & Ewe for you. The Ram was desired for the Carolinians, & would have been readily taken. I could have obtained a younger Ram—but of less Blood. I have been obliged to allow 40$ for the Ram; as he is rising 4 Years old; & fit for immediate Bussiness. The Ewe is at the usual Price of 25$.

I have succeeded in obtaining for you the services of George Cooper, the bearer of this letter, should you be able to agree with him on terms. He can stay with you six weeks, during which time he will be able to make an excellent groom & coachman of any of your own servants, whose genius does not lie in an opposite direction.

I did not recieve your Letter of the 22d Feby 'till yesterday. I am much obliged by your Attention to my Request relative to the Enquiries on Plaister of Paris. I find that taking an Airing, or indeed a Gallop, now & then on some of my old Hobby Horses, relieves me from the small & sometimes the great Maladies of the Mind. If I can make these Excursions useful to others, a double Purpose will be answered. The Account given by Mr L. Lewis is exactly as I expected. Your Land is not of the Quality calculated for Plaister.

     I have search'd every paper, both of my own & of the Estates & cannot find Lee's Bond or contract I have also look'd amongst your paper to no purpose— I will recollect having given you the bond & Contract at the time we determined to bring suit a gainst Genl Lee for the Amt— did you never put these papers into the hands of a Lawyer for this purpose.

I interrupt your agreeable Law Engagements with a Bagatelle. Our agricultural Society have desired me to review my little Book on Plaister of Paris, for Republication; as it [is] out of Print. I wish to add all the modern Facts I can procure, but find everybody lazy & uncommunicative. I have been 2 Years endeavouring to collect Facts out of Loudon County Virginia (as there must be some Balm in Gilead) but have hitherto failed. It is only when the Maggot bites, or to relieve Ennui, that I get at such Subjects.

I am extremely sorry to be compelled again to take up yr time & attention. But I cannot avoid it, as I must get to my family let the sacrifice be what it may. I was very desirous of closing all honest claims satisfactorily. Inded such expectation has made me bear all the ills I suffer. Yrself I expected to have found foremost in contributing to such a result.

     yours of the 13th inst. is recd. I take this early opportunity, to give my consent, to your acceptance, of Genl Lee's proposition, (as detailed in your letter) respecting the dismal swamp property, he purchased, of the late Genl Geo. Washington. I am satisfied, the interests of the legatees will be promoted thereby, & consequently, approbate the course, you wish to pursue. I am Gentn with respect &c.

It is all important to me that you should give every attention to Collins’ suit before you leave town & that I should hear from you without delay the final result of your endeavors— I have your ltr by return of my express with a notice that on the second day of the July court which is next tuesday a motion will be made agst me in consequence of the office judgmt.

I have now the honor to enclose C.L. Wagnes draft on Mr Ezra Sargent for $500 at Sixty days sight which was protested for none payment the 15 Inst Charged 2 50/100 I remain very respectfully Dr Sir your Obdt Servt

I have recd your favour of the 8th instant with C.P. Waynes draft on Ezra Sergeant for 500 Dollars which was presented and noted for Non acceptance the 13th instant if not paid at maturity, it will be regularly protested & transmitted to you. I remain with perfect Respect Dr Sir your most obedt Servt

THE President of the United States Military Philosophical Society, has requested me to communicate to the several Members, the following extract from their minutes.

     "At a stated meeting held at West Point, on the first Monday in May, 1808, the President submitted to the consideration of the Society, the state of their finances.

I have the honor of aknowledging your favour of the 28th of April with a Bill drawn by C.P. Wayne on Mr Ezra Sergeant of this city, for five Hundred Dollars, which has been accepted payable July 1st & 3rd next, the proceeds of which I shall hold Subject to your disposal. I have the honour to be with the highest Esteem Dr Sir your Obt Servt

There being now in this City a considerable number of the Members of the United States Military Philosophical Society, I think it my duty in conformity to the 3d Section of the 4th Chapter of the Constitution, to call an occasional meeting to be held at the first apartment on the right hand in the War Office, on Saturday 30 Inst.² for the purpose of stating to the members, who have not hitherto had an opportunity of meeting the Society, the motives which gave rise to the institution, its object, progress, and present state, together with an account of such commu

ON the other side is a copy of the Constitution of the United States Military Philosophical Society, which has undergone some amendments, found essential in practice: you will discover them by comparing this copy with that sent to you with the notice of your election. William Popham, Esq. Treasurer of the Society, will receive all communications during the winter, (there being then no stated meetings,) in conformity to the second article of the fourth chapter.

     I recieved, the day before yesterday, a small box addressed to me, on opening which, I found in it letters from mr Eccleston of Lancaster England, for yourself, Judge Marshall & myself. the one to me informed me that the box contained a medal of Genl Washington for each of us, and the one under cover to me being uppermost, I took it out, without disturbing the package of what remained in the box. mr Chevallié passing on yesterday evening, I got him to take charge of the box (which I nailed again) and to deposit it with mr Gadsden Alexa. subject to your order.