We had the Pleasure of receiving yours & Nancys Letters dated in Decr last about Six Days ago, after we had daspaired of hearing again from our Friends—for this was the sacond packet only. that we have recd since we left Virginia— I have wrote frequently At prasent this will serve merely to inclose a Letter for Nancy from her Mother, wch being pretty full I need not be particular. We have taken our passage from this to So.

     I am sorry to think I have cause to accuse you of inattention to my requests. When you were at Mount Vernon last, I told you I had been informed that, the Assignees of Semple, against whom I, as the Surviving Exr of Colo. Thos Colvill had obtained judgment on a Bond, either had thrown, or was about to throw the matter into Chancery; and I desired if this was, or should be the case that you would unite with Mr Chs Lee to bring the matter to issue as soon as possible: and at any rate, that you wd let me know the true state of the case.

     I have never yet met with any opportunity of writing to you since the new year except by Post, and I am sorry to find that the several letters written to go that way have never reached you yet, and it is possible as you have not received them before now that they will not get to you at all, which render it necessary for me to recapitulate what was mentioned in some of them. I wrote to you that Mr Downman had pd off his Bond £244.13.4 That on the 6 Feby I pd Mr Park by order of Beckwith Butler £100 and on the 11th of Feby pd Docr Thomson for Blane £145.1.0.

     Your kind favor of the 3d of the present Month came safe to me on Monday last. It was unnecessary for you to have said that you were much concerned at hearing of the distressed Situation of my Family— your past friendship would have convinced me that you participated with me— I will not add to yr uneasiness by a relation of what I have suffered since the commencement of the new year— Let it suffice to say, that my dear wife has had no return yet of her melancholy complaint, and my Son Richard is in a fair way to recover from his very sudden & severe Attack.

Owing to some new arrangement of the Post Office, your letter of the first instant did not reach my hands until yesterday afternoon.

I leave it to yourself to prosecute the trespassers upon my four mile run tract in my name (if it is necessary to make use of it) & in Whatsoever manner you shall think most effectual.

     Since I had the pleasure of seeing you, or writing to you, I have been one of the most unhappy creatures in the world— I have expected to loose my dear wife by very severe epileptic Fits, which seized he[r] on the 9th of the present Month, and attended her for several days & nights— It is now 14 or 15 days since she has had any return of them; but, I fear, they will return again— I have imployed the best Physicians in this part of the world, and they flatter me with her entire recovery— My constant attention is not wanted you may be sure— My children are well, exc

     I have long suspected—but, such has been my situation for some years back, that I have not been able to ascertain the fact—that a tract of about 1200 acres wch I hold on four mile-run near Alexandria has had the wood thereon dealt pretty freely with by unauthorised persons in its vicinity.

     Yours of the 7th of the present month I found at Hay Wood the day before yesterday enclosing an order drawn by Mr R. B. Carter, which, as well as your other business, shall be punctually attended to. Our dear Sister seems to be some what better, and the family have great hopes of her recovery, but for  my own part I still have very little. Docr Rose told me about two weeks ago, that he conceived she was past all recovery— He thinks she is so low that it is highly probable she will never reach the Springs—but God is the best Judge.

     E[ncl]osed you have an attested Copy of the Notice give[n] Weston, <mutilated> be pleased to request of the District-Court of De<mutilated> award of Commissioners with Liberty to either of the Parties o<mutilated> Notice to claim a Dedimus for taking Evidence in Philada and <mutilated> otherwise I fear I shall never come at tryal.

     Fickleness is not only always distressing the mind of the Man it attacks; but is often, in its consequences, exceedingly distructive to his circumstances; both of these I have experienced in some degree in my late attempt to move my Family to Berkley, which I declined merely to satisfy a few worthy Friends in this neighbourhood. Expecting to move off in a month or two, I sold some of my property that I cannot well do without now, and consequently my Family will be subjected to many disagreeable inconveniences.

     Enclosed you have Thos Oliver’s (of Dumfries) Note pa<i>d to Doctor Gerardus Clarkson and dated Philada June 5th 1784, where th<e> interest of Money is C$PRCt— Also a Lre to you and nine Dollars in bank Notes from Saml Clarkson one of the Administrators to the afore. <Ger>ardus his father now deceased.

I find that I have so fully investigated the Subject of the lost Pier, that I cannot add any thing for illustration to the Papers denominated "Statement of incontrovertible Facts, strictures relating to a Pier—and suggestion respecting the Pier—Since they were written I have investigated the Causes of the fate of said Pier and my sentiments have been confirmed by Thomas Davis an Thomas Connavor Simon of Philadelphia, and Jesse Hollingsworth of Baltimore by Prontin having built several, they will each Prove that the defects in Workmanship as well as principle rendered

The enclosed is in answer to a letter I have just received from your Brother. It goes unsealed that you may aid it with your own opinion and advice or by searching among my Papers as directed for any thing that may be serviceable. Mrs Washington joins me in love to yourself & Nancy—and I am Your Affecte friend & Uncle

Among the first acts of my recommencing business (after lying six weeks on my right side) is that of writing you this letter in acknowledgement of yours of the [<2m#>] ultimo— Not being fairly on my seat yet, or in other words not being able to sit up without feeling some uneasiness, it must be short.

     It is so with me that my pasture have crops of Wheat or Oats within the fences that prevents my havig the free use of them until after Harvest, this will oblige me to put your Horse within an Inclosure where he may, if he is a jumper pester me there being Grass ground for Mowg where the fence is not very sufficient adjoing, yet I coud not think of sendg him back to you— When I see Mjr Washington I shall tell him he shoud furnish you with pasture they havig great Quantitys of Land inclosed for that purpose I shall make no charge while the Horse is with me & I presu

     I must beg your Excuse for having so long neglected to execute the little Commission for Mrs Washington. It was some time before Mr Powel received your Letter & I have since that been much indisposed with a Fever & Pain in my Head & Breast— On Enquiry I find that some very handsome white Furr is to be purchased—but as the Season is very far advanced I would reccommend it to your Lady to defer getting it till the Autumn. The Furriers understand preserving it from the Moth much better than Ladies.

     I was not at home when your Letter arrived yesterday, or Should then have thanked you, as I now sincerely do, for your kind offer— previous to the rect of it, I had rented an office of Mr Watson, at the exorbitant price of £15. Your Stable I will put into repair & make use of until you may want it. I very readily accept your offer of Hay, as it is both difficult to procur[e] it, Here, and when got comes very dear. Wishing you health & happiness— I am with Love to my Aunt Dr Uncle Your very affect. Nephew

     The Man who lives in my House in Town is there, I am told, on curtesy; and was only to have a reasonable previous notice to remove— Under these circumstances, if you can make the House and Stable (for of the latter there was once a very good one) convenient for your purposes, you shall be welcome to the use of them. This lott was once, well inclosed, but has no fence I believe at present; otherwise, as you talked of a Garden, it would make a very good one, as the ground has a good exposure.

     Mr Packet handed me your lettr of the 20th— In one thing my sentiments perfectly coincide with your own— and that is, to manage our Virginia Estates well there cannot be a divided attention— for with all the attention that can be bestowed, they are seldom productive.

     Your letter of the 9th came to my hand last night. What the abilities of my deceased brother Samls Estate towards paying his debts, may be, I am unable to say; but I much fear that the management of it is in very bad hands; as the hours of your Uncle Charles are—I have reason to believe—spent in intoxication. This circumstance, added to a natural indolence, leaves too much to the Steward to expect industry and fair dealing; unless he differs widely from the generallity of his class.

     Altho' I have little expectation that this letter will find you in Richmond I still send it thither. Under this persuation, I shall add no more than to acct for the enclosure being so long in my possession.

     I thank you for returning to me the letter of the 6th of august last. for your attendance on me i do not demand any thing. nor do i wish to receive any thing on the other account mentioned in my last and two former letters, if you be not satisfied that the tobacco was due to mr Madison. i hope you will not put yourself to the least inconvenience in this affair.

     A Mr H. Banks, of your Assembly is disposed to be kind to me or has some view of being so to himself. Charity leads to the first suspicion to the latter opinion. He has informed me that the Sherif of Greenbrier has a considerable demand upon me for the taxes of my land on the Great Kankawa, in that Country—but has forborne (through his means) from proceeding to extremities till he could advice me thereof. This is the first intimation directly or indirectly I have had of these taxes.

     Permit me, sir, to remind you of a promisory note to pay me, some total to (250 lbs. if i remember rightly, for i have not the note by me) which you received six or seven years ago from Mr Cabell. a student at college at the same time with you, delivered to Mr Madison some tobacco, i believe a hogshead, to be divided between mr Madison and mr C. desired him to retain the whole upon his consenting that i might receive what you should be indebted to him.

     In due course of Post, I received your letters of the 19th & 26th Ult.; and since, the one which you committed to the care of Mr Powell. I thank you for the communications therein, & for a continuation, in matters of importance, I shall be obliged to you.