Since you left this I recd two letters from your Brother telling me that his wife was he hoped (& indeed to all appearence) better that they had declined going to Alexd. & beg'd I would directly go up I packed up to do so, & Nancy was taken sick which prevented me for 7 or eight days—the day previous to that of our seting off— he sent down to desire I would not set out as his poor wife was growing much worse & most desirous of being at Bushfield last Tuesday week the messenger left them in Alexd.

     We have been here ever since last Sunday week trying to get a passage down to Westmoreland, which the Doctor strongly recommends, and if the voyage so far does not disagree, he advises that we proceed farther on— After a great many fruitless attempts I have at last <g>ot a Vessel which will sail tom<o>rrow— <I> do not think there has been any considerable change either for the better or worse for some weeks past, except what has been occasioned by the easterly Stormes, which seem to have prevailed more than usual this Spring.

     When I wrote you last the Symptoms of my Wife's disorder had taken a favourable turn, & appearances were rather flattering; but for some days past she has been much more unwell, and I have very strong reasons to apprehend that another rising is forming on her lungs— indeed I am extremely alarmed about her, and now, more than ever satisfied that her lungs are seriously attacked— I am just dispatching a messenger for the Doctor, which compells me to write less to you than I should otherwise do— My children are all well, and I am much better than I could, circumstanc

     Colo. Thos Lee going to Alexandria early tomorrow affords me an opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of yours of the 15 Inst.

     Last wednesday evening Oliver delivered me your affectionate letter, for which, as well as for the trouble you were at in sending him to inquire about my poor wife's health, I return you my most grateful thanks— I should be relieved from the greatest distress, and almost too happy, if I had only reason to believe that your surmises respecting my dear Wifes Situation was well grounded; but on the contrary, I am well persuaded that her lungs were affected at the time Docr Banham paid her his first visit last fall, and the progress of the disorder was merely suspended by

     As some time has elapsed since I have heard from you, and some things remained to be done by the Auditor of which you were to give me the result I have been apprehensive of a return of your fever and wish to hear of the perfect recovery of yourself & Mrs Washington who we are informed has also been sick.

     I have not heard from you since your letter of the 11 Feby, and the unhappy Situation of my family has prevented me from answering your letter until now— The various disorders that have oppressed by poor wife have been daily putting on more alarming Symptoms, and of course my necessary attention to her prevents me from thinking of any thing else— Even the Doctrs begin to discover their apprehension as to her recovery— I wish I could flatter myself with her recovery; but present appearances forbid it— She has been now five weeks unable even to turn herself in her bed,

     Yours of the 11 Inst.

Your letter of the 1st instant came to my hands by Saturdays Post; with the Auditors Receipts. If no bad consequences flow from the delay, in that Office, it is immaterial when I obtain the result of his investigation of the state of my taxes, on the Western Waters; but to prevent it, let me request you, to keep his enquiries alive. The tract of 587 Acres lyes I presume, in the County of Harrison; or if divided, in the part taken therefrom, below, on the River Ohio, lying about 15 miles below Wheeling. The other tract, on the Ohio, is situated 3 or 4 Miles below the Mo.

     I hoped long before now to have executed the little business you intrusted to me, but alas I have had no time to attend to any business for some time past out of my poor wife's chamber— She has been violently attacked twice since delivery, of the first she apparently recovered, but of the last she is confined to her bed, and so extremely reduced that I have no right to flatter myself with her recovery.

     I had heard with much concern, before your letter of the 21st instant was received, of your illness; and congratulate you on your recovery. Be careful in guarding against a relapse, by taking cold.

     I hope my letter of the 19th of this month got safe to your hands (by the Post); contained therein, were $120 to enable you to do the needful relative to the taxes of my Western Lands; accompanied by some statements which might assist in the investigation of that business.

     Yesterday your two dear letters were handed me by Mr Mccartys servant, with 6 very fine oranges & the tea for which my poor G<2m>son returns you many thanks— to tell you my feelings on reading your last letter is impossible, to know that my greatly beloved Child had been ill—for I am sure that you was extremely so—put me in a tremour not easily shook off—& that it <p>leasd Heaven to grant you a reco<ve>ry filled me with a most pious ejaculation to the author of all goodness for his mercies— I am yet exceedingly unhappy both on yours & my

Your letter of the 8th instant came to hand opportunely, as Mr Augustus Woodward (in whose favour the Sheriff of Kanhawa had drawn for the taxes of my lands in that County) was here on his return from Philadelphia, and received the full amount of his draught.

I am perfectly at a loss to know what is meant by the Auditors A/c as coming from "The Sheriff of Greenbrier who says he has returned a tract of land the property of Genl George Washington Esqr., amounting to 15,940 Acres for non-payment of the Revenue tax due thereon, for the year 1789. The tax is £35:17:3."

When you send me the Auditors Account of the taxes due on my land in Kanhawa County, be so good as to forward, at the same time, Genel Lee's Deed of conveyance to me, of two tracts of land in the State of Kentucky, one for two, and the other for 3000 acres. They were, I believe, included in one Deed of Bargain and Sale, and recorded in the General Court Office. It is the original Deed I ask for.

     We are all well, and send best wishes to you, and yours. I am your sincere friend and Affectionate Uncle

     A few days after the receipt of your letter of the 10th last Month enclosing some orders for me to collect for you, my young Man sat off for Westmoreland, and has not yet returned, which put it out of my power to have them presented; but as soon as he returns <th>at business shall be attended t<o>— I should have presented them myself, had my wife's Situation permitted me to leave her; but I trust I shall not be long confined on her account, as she was delivered on Sunday last of a Girl & both are doing well— The order you gave on Thos Paten has been mi

     I have inclos'd you the 50 dollar bill which Neale paid for my Tobo—& shall thank you to pay out of it my Tax at court today— I thought that your purse was low as well as mine now is—the inclos'd being the last of my treasure— I have just paid Mr B. Lee near ten pounds for fodder bought last winter God bless you & yrs.

Your letter of the 26th Ulto came safe in the usual course of the Mail, and about a week ago Mrs Forbes arrived; and from her appearance, and conduct hitherto, gives satisfaction to your Aunt. Having, as she says, obtained ten dollars of you, to defray her expences to this place; I herein return them, with thanks for the aid it afforded to get her here. and as you may have paid for the copies of sundry papers taken from the Records of the General Court, let me know the amount, and it shall be remitted also.

Your letter of the 13th instt has been duly received, as I believe all your Others have.

     Although my beloved Bushrod I have not time to say much, yet I know a line or two will give you much happiness when coming from a mother whose greatest wish is the welfare of her dearest Children— I have been only twice at this place since I return'd from Selby & then for no more than three days— Col.

     Your letter of the 30th Ult. was received by the last Post.

     Your Aunts distresses for want of a good housekeeper are such, as to render the wages demanded by Mrs Forbes (though unusually high) of no consideration; and we must, though very reluctantly, yield to the time she requires to prepare for her fixture here. We wish however that it might be shortned.

Your several letters—Opinion—and Copy of the Deed to William Williams for 589 Acres of Land have been duly received—and for which I offer you my best thanks.

     It is a little singular that the proceedings for docking the Intail of the above mentioned Land, should not be found among the Records of the General Court, or in the Secretary's Office, from whence it issued, and to which it most assuredly was returned.

     A Mrs Forbes, who was Housekeeper to Governor Brooke, has been strongly recommended by his brother Mr John Brooke to Mr Anderson (my Manager) as a person who would answer my purposes well— She has been written to once or twice, and no answer is obtained.

     I am sorry to inform you that I have been very unsuccessful in collecting the money for the drafts you enclosed me some time ago— Mr Lampkin & myself have frequently made application, but always met with a put off from some of them— Messr Patton & Dykes paid their £7 on the 3d this Month, and John Mandeville his £12 yesterday— Thos Patton says he paid Mr Swan £7 by your order and only owes £7 now, which he promises to pay between this and Monday next— McPherson always makes fair promises, but holds back the money, I pushed him very hard yesterday, & mean t

     Mr Thomas Pearson, heir intail to Simon Pearson his brother, has brought suit in the Court of this County for the lands which the latter sold to Willm Triplett, George Johnson & myself, five & thirty years ago.

     I had the very great comfort of receving your welcome & affe. letter, wherein you say that your mind is quite made up in regard to settleing at Walnut farm directly—it would be a vain attempt in me to express my feelings on this occasion, to have you so near me gives that happiness I never expected to have known again in this world for sure my situation at Bushfield was a very friendless & forlorn one—& a poor unfortunate creature like myself feel every calamity with double force.