I have cut out of the Lees. Washingtonian of the 16th Jn. the pro[c]eedings of a meeting of a few of the Inhabitants of this County who are desirous of forming themselves into an Auxiliary Colonization Society which I now take the liberty of enclosing to you. You will observe that an idea prevailed at that meeting, That the people were uninformed as to the object of the Wash. Co. So. & that the people wanted information generally upon this Subject.

     The lease from Geo: Washington to Hamiltree (which I [t]hink is the name of the tenant— Mr Lee has his name) is in the hands of Mr Wiley to whome he has paid one or two rents; I do not recollect the date of the lease, but believe it must have been given in 1803 or 1804— I have never seen the lease, or contract, but am under the impression Mr Wiley told me he was only a tenant at will I am sorry I cannot give you any positive information on this subject— Affecly yours

     I returned last night from Suffolk where I had gone, to attempt a sale of the land. Uender the limitation of price, ($8 per accre) which you had prescribed its was put up, at that sum; but not a single bid was made. Several persons, who wanted it, attended the Sale, but the highest price any of them spoke of, was $2 per acre. I understand, that about 100 acres of the land is well timbered with oak; & worth perhaps $8 or $10 or more, per acre; but, that the residue is of little value.

     Through you the Synod of Tennessee embrace, with lively pleasure, an early opportunity of congratulating the Society formed at the Capital of our nation, and consisting of so many of our distinguished statesmen and fellow-citizens, for the colonization of the Free People of Colour among us, who may accede to their plan.

I have just returned home from a meeting of the Proprietors of the D. S. land Company which was held at Suffolk last week; and now forward to you the managers Dft on their Treasurer at Norfolk for eighteen hundred Dollars. The Dividend would have been much greater if the Agent could have disposed off the Shingles now on hand. There appears to be some difference in Opinion at present between the Buyers & Sellers respecting the price of Shingles, which has produced shorter Sales to be made than is usual at this Season of the year.

I am desirous of Putting to rest intirely all possibility of future dispute respecting the conflicting claims in which the Heirs of the late Genl Washington and myself are concerned— I therefore propose to purchase of the Heirs a relinquishment of their claim under L.O. Military Warrant No. 3753. for 3000 Acres as<signe>e of John Rootes for Services in the year 1763— as the Law now Stands I could withdraw my claims to those lands and leave the claim under Warrant No.

Directions for making Muffins

I have not yet completed my Circuit & shall defer to a future time a statement of the decisions which have been already made— My present object in writing is to ascertain what has been the practice, if any, in the District or circuit Courts of Pennsylvania & New Jersey upon Summary applications to repeal patents under the 10th Sect. of the Patent act 1793. A case is now before me from the District Court upon a writ of error from its decisions under that Section— Several questions have arisen. 1.

Permit me to introduce to you general Bernard, an officer whose military merit, altho it Has no Superiors and few equals in His line, is still Surpassed By the liberal, Candid, and Unassuming disinterestedness of His temper. His Lady and family accompany Him. I much wish He may be Welcomed in the US Because I am sure that when he is known He will be Universally Beloved.

I had the pleasure of receiving on my return from the upper country your letter dated in August. I had not seen Brown¹ & had formed an opinion of the civil admiralty jurisdiction from the character of a case of piracy not from precedent A pirate being an enemy of the human race & at war with the civilized world I had considered a libel for the condemnation of his vessel as partaking rather of the character of a prize cause than of one belonging to the civil admiralty side of the court. But I bow to precedent.

     I have the honour, in compliance with the Direction of the Managers of the American Bible Society, to inform you, that You have been elected one of the Vice Presidents of that Institution.

     Trusting that this great National Society for the circulation of the Word of God without Note or Comment will meet with your cordial approbation, I am Sir Your's respectfully

It is a sabbath evening; but I take up my pen to address you on a holy theme. I fear, I may be too late; or rather, that had I written before, it would have been alike fruitless; but my object is good, and, in such a cause, I shall have some pride, even tho' I fail. It is rumoured, around the court at Washington, that our effort to obtain from you, the sacred ashes of your deceased relatives, is but to quicken a similar application from the Congress of the United States. This ensinuation is as dishonorable to us, as it is fal<mutilated> itself.

I perform with infinite satisfaction the duty assigned to me by the enclosed Resolutions of the General Assembly.

     To the unanimous expression of the desire of the Legislature, I beg leave to add the earnest wishes of the Executive; that you will permit the remains of her beloved son General Washington, and those of his excellent and amiable wife, to be removed to Richmond, to be interred near the Capitol, beneath a monument to be erected at the expense of the people of Virginia.

    I receivd your letter of the 5 of Decm. only two days since. My wish entirely accords with your opinion, as to the Sale of the land in question next Spring, and leave it to the better judgement of your-self and Mr Turner to fix on the propper papers for advertizing it in. A Sale at ten dollars an acre would be preferable to the continuance of debt.

     If you will pay the remaining bond due me by your Nephew, on the 1st of Next Jany, you will thereby oblige me much, as I shall then want the money‑ very Respectfully I am Yr Obd. Sert 

Mr Bruen¹ will have the honor of delivering you this letter— This gentleman, who is one of our most respectable merchants, is on a visit to the State of Ohio, and is desirous of being introduced to a brother of yours who resides in that state— Not having the pleasure of knowing your brother, I have recommended to him to call at Mount-Vernon in his way, & will thank you for a line of introduction. I am with great regard—your most obedient

     I have just seen Mr Alexander & have had a conversation with him, relative to the land over the Ridge, which Genl Washingtons Executors have succeeded, in making my Brothers estate, answerable for the payment of.

On receiving your letter I made the necessary inquiries respecting the lands for which taxes have not been paid. The money can no longer be received in the auditors office but must be paid in the county to the sheriff. If not paid before August they will then be sold. The sooner payment is made the better as the arrears accumulate very fast they carry an interest of ten percent & I am not sure that it is not compounded.

I Have not for a long time Had the pleasure to Hear from you But Hope the Restoration of peace Between the U.S. and G.B. will afford opportunities for a Correspondance I So much Value— the Consequences of the late changes in france with Respect to our British interloude are not yet known— they Cannot at Any Rate Hinder, under proper precautions, the precious Invite You Have been pleased to promise.

As peace will I hope restore commerce to the United States I have again turned my attention to the profession for which I originally intended my son James. He is now at Cambridge, but I should remove him without hesitation the instant it becomes proper to place him in a counting house. He was fifteen in february last & has made as great a proficiency in his studies as is usual with boys of that age.

As the time for our session approaches I become anxious to know what our situation will be. Can you inform me what provision is made for us? Where and in what kind of a room are we to sit?

I was much gratified by the Receipt of your Letter of the 8th instant. I have been uneasy lest you Should suffer by the Inroads of the Enemy, or the Depredations of undisciplined Friends. Mount Vernon should be hallowed, even by Barbarians. But all things are not as they ought to be, now a Days. I hope, however, that Vengeance is glutted by the Prostration of our Capitol. The Geese once saved the Capitol of Rome; but ours are not of the Same Breed; they would, had they so been, at least have given timely warning.

     I have the pleasure of addressing to you this note, to serve as a memorandum of—what possibly in the multiplicity of more important engagements might for a time escape your recollection—the conversation we held and the promise your goodness induced you to make, touching biographical memoirs of Richard Henry Lee and the Honbe Chief Justice Marshall. If any thing could enhance the value of the articles themselves, it would be the pens that may prepare them, and the early period of time at which they may be recieved.