Mr King, our Minister at the Court of London—to whom I sent the Decree of the High Court of Chancery of this state, with a request to have it published according to the direction therein contained—"in some Public Paper in the Kingdom of Great Britain for two months successively"—has caused the same to be inserted agreeably thereto in the London Gazette, as may be seen by one herewith enclosed (several of which has been forwarded to me) and wrote to me as follow on the occasion.

     We shall be very glad to see you & Mrs Washington here on thursday next, and my Chariot shall meet you at Colchester at 3 Oclock on that day.

     By your fixing on that hour for its being there, I presume you did not intend to be here at dinner (it being the hour at which we dine) of course shall niether expect or wait for you.

     On the 19th of last month I received by Post three letters from you, one dated the 7th covering Pollards answer, and the general court commission, and two others dated the 12th, one of which mentioned Genl Lee's having paid Mr Chas lee £700 for me, and the other covering a draft on Mr Watson for 120 dollars and a request that I would purchase and forward to Mr Richardson sundry articles therein mentioned, all which I should punctually have attended to immediately, if my business had permitted me to come to Town which never happened untill last Tuesday evening— Finding

     The mode of conveyance by post seems more uncertain than it did formerly—determines me to write the oftener to my children, that the chance may be in favor of their receiving some few of the many letters sent that way—although I am conscious for many sad months past that my letters cant afford them that satisfaction they once did—for where the mind is distress'd the correspondent cant be a pleasing one, but well I know the affectionate sympathy of my beloved children who interest themselves in every thing which concerns their mother— thus confidently assured, she open

     The enclosed letter was sent to me from the Post Office with many others, & the Seal broke before I discovered the error; but I assure you upon my honor I know not a word it contains— for seeing the beginning I looked to the Subscription, and instantly closed it again. With affectionate regard I am ever Yours

     Knowing the satisfaction you have in reading my poor & now unentertaining letters, I write often to you whither you receive them or not I cant tell as the post seems to be an uncertain mode of conveyance— my poor dear Hannah is yet very weak & sick, though rather better than when you left this— poor Col.

     Knowing the satisfaction you have in reading my poor & now unentertaining letters, I write often to you whither you receive them or not I cant tell as the post seems to be an uncertain mode of conveyance— my poor dear Hannah is yet very weak & sick, though rather better than when you left this— poor Col.

     I came here a few days ago with an intention to taking the Stage to Richmond for the double purpose of spending a few days with you, and to try to Sell Walnut Farm; but being rather indisposed, and the weather promising to turn very severe, I have thought it best to decline the journey for the present, and to depend upon your friendly assistance in this business, which I know you will willingly lend— The Setting of the Assembly & federal Court will naturally draw together in Richmond such a number of people from all different parts of the Country, that there will

     I now inclose you the record in the case of Dickenson v. Paulett & Marks. mr Marks, by purchasing all Paulett's right, stands completely in his shoes. his first wish is to obtain a confirmation of his right to the land.

     You have not informed me what or whether any thing has been done in the Court of Chancery (in this State) for bringing the accts of my Administration of Colo. Colvills Estate to a close, that my hands may be entirely clear, of it. I therefore give you the trouble of this enquiry; as I am extremely anxious to be acquitted. The balance due from me, (and at present lodged in the Bank of Alexandria) is ready to be applied in any manner and at any moment to the Chancellors order.

     I wrote you a few lines by last Post informing you of the contents of my Mother's letter from Philadelphia written on the 24 May and the Boy who carried your letter to the Post Office brought me another from my Mother dated the 29 May, in which She says my Sister's health is not altered in the smallest degree for the better, and that they are to leave Philadelphia immediately on their way to Rhode Island— indeed, my dear Brother, I am very uneasy on account both of my Sister & Mother; my Sister's complaint I apprehend is confirmed & incurea

      If my suit againt Chapman has not been tried, & it is not too late to take Depositions; or if you can obtain Commissions for that purpose I shall be much obliged to you to send two, and I wish to know if I cannot get a peremtory order to take Nathl Chapman Hunters Deposition as he has refused to give it, I wish very to have his testamony as it is very material to my Cause; please let me know how my cause stands at this time and if you think I shall be successful in it; you will also greatly oblige me by Directing the Clerk to send me Copies of Chs Simm's and John

I got to this place last thirsday & found your dear sister with a fever cover'd up, her fevers are pretty constant & cough bad— Mr Fithugh who is now here, tells us that he saw you in Fredericksburg a few days ago— I hope you left my dear Nancy well— As I understand that she is not with you, nex saturday¹ we shall leave Parkgate & get to Dumfries, where we intend to stay till monday morning— intirely on the account of seeing you— we all are most anxious for that happiness— your dear sick sister very particularly so, before she sets off on her long trip‑ it

      I reced your favor dated the Sixth of Febry¹ this Eighteenth day of apl Opened, If I had recd it sooner should have answered it immediately, I herewith Enclose a Note from Chapman with an affidavit of the recieipt, Mr Alexanders Deposition is very material but not as much so, as some others if you have recd them, please let me know as soon as you recieive this, if Mr Chapmans note will secure the reading the Deposition, I am also to inform you that after Mr Chapman got the last Judgment in your Court he executed my property and sold it to amount of his Jud

     Your letter of the 20 March was delivered me on the 4th of this month whilst I was deeply engaged in packing up and moving my furniture from Walnut Farm to give up the place agreeable to contract to the person who is to live there this year, which is one reason why I have not sent you an answer before now, altho' that should not have prevented me if I had not conceived the answer rendered unnecessary in consequence of a letter my Mother wrote you from Haywood, which you have doubtless got long before now— When my Mother got to Haywood on her way from Richmond, she fou

     Ten days ago we ventured to carry my dearest Mildred to Bushfield, where she recovered so fast that Mr Lee & herself being anxious to return to Parkgate came here on their way last nigh though contrary to my opinion, her cough which is very troublesome yet is a most serious affair, Col Washington was (I hoped) recovering very quickly when I wrote you by Mr Butler— has since relapsed & was expected to die, which determined me to come up with Mr Lee & your sister to stay a few days with him & assist the girls in nursing their father, our Parkgate friends

     Presuming that you have received my last, sent thro' the hands of Mr Keith, with such aids as he was able to afford you respecting my Administration of Colo. Colvils estate, and supposing, as the Chancery term is closed or about to close, that the enclosed letter from that Gentleman would not get to your hands in time to influence your measures I resolv>ed, at first, not to send it. <But upon second> thoughts have changed my mind; lea<ving it> to chance, and your own Judgment, to give it the best effect of which the information is susceptible.

     Owing to some irregularity of the Post, your letter of the 29th Ulto did not reach my hands until 8 oclock last Night.

     I shall leave the management of the chancery business respecting Colvils estate, entirely to you; not only for the purpose of closing it speedily, but effectually also; as I want to be quieted in this business, & to be finally done with it.

     Well knowing what pleasure it will give you to releive me from embarrassment of any kind, I, without hesitation, take the liberty to ask your advice about some business I am perplexed with, and am inadequate to determine upon satisfactorily to myself— in consequence of the death of Mrs Lee (the Widow of Richard Henry Lee decd) it is necessary that her dower negroes should be divided directly agreeable to the Will of the said Richd H. Lee, and I am doubtful whether this division should be made by the administrator of Mrs Lee, or the Executors of Richard H. Lee.

     I am now at <Sir> Francis Thornton's on the Fall Hill where I arrived last night from Culpepper & Ora[n]ge— I waited on Colo.

     Since my last to you, relative to my Executorship of Colo. Colvills Estate, I sent, as therein mentioned, to the person from whom I had purchased the Guinea, or Chinese Hogs which you saw at my Mill, and obtained two; a boar & a sow; the latter with Pig. He informed me, however, that they were not of the whole blood; but, in his opinion, improved from their mixture with another breed of Hogs which he has.

     On Saturday last I received your letter of the 24th Ulto.

     Your are very welcome to a part of the Guinea—or Chinese Hogs which you saw at my Mill— But it is necessary to inform you, that except the Sow which you might have seen in a pen & her Pigs wch were running about it, I have none others, unmixed at that place. This happens from their running at large.

     Inclosed is a copy of so much of a record of a suit between Crisp and Holiman in Cumberland County Court, as contains the point now in controversy, and which is submitted to you, on this question—Can judgment of the Court on the verdict in this case be staid or arrested, because of the blanks in the declaration, on the plea of not guilty, after verdict?

     I write to You from after the Receit of your Letter by Joe & among other things requested You to inform me, what Nancy wou'd be <illegible> imediately necessary for Tommy, Occasions of Cloathg or other Calls & to advise whether Bank Notes wou'd answer— Since this I have recd a Letter from Tommy informing me that he has been supplied by Nancy with Money for one pair of Breeches, but that he is in want of another pair Supposing that Bank Notes may be negotiated without Loss in Goods I inclose You now two Alexandria Bills