I got home yesterday & am now engaged in packing up the books which I shall send to Alexandria tomorrow to be forwarded by the first Vessel to your friend in Baltimore. Below is a list of the books with the Stirling Cost which I discharged at 15 pr ct. above par which I understand is lower than the present rate—if so, you will neverthless take the books at what I paid for them. I am sir respectfully your ob. Servt

     I now enclose you my answer to your letter of the 21st of Feby, covering the resolutions of the Legislature of Virginia, and I throw myself upon your goodness to excuse the delay which has taken place. If the embarrassment which a conflict of duties, of feelings & of inclinations have produced be insufficient for my apology, I have none other of equal weight to plead.

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.

I take the liberty of enquiring whether the letter I wrote you under date of the 12th July last was received? And of asking the favor of an answer to it. I am induced to give you this trouble in consequence of the encreasing difficulties to which Mr Bernards mortgage, &; Mr Morson's refusal on that account to pay off his bonds, expose me. In particular I would state the case of one of my nephews Creditors who must be ruined if the payment of his debt is much longer delayed, &; my promise to him to write again to you on this subject.

     I have at length recieved a promise from Mr Morson to deposit immediately in one of the Alexandria Banks the amount of the principal & interest of the bond due by my nephew. I shall inform him tomorrow what will be the amount, and I presume that in 8 or 10 days I may calculate upon being ready to pay you.

     Having seen the death of Doctr Barton announced in the public prints & thinking it likely that some changs may take place in the Medical School at Phila., by which a Professor of Chemistry may be to be chosen, I have, after some hesitation, determined to use with you the freedom of a friend by mentioning our respectable fellow Citizen Robt Hare to fill that chair, should a vacancy be created.

I have perused this essay with the very great attention¹ & with the most perfect respect for the talents as well as the benevolent motives by which the author has been actuated.² I have no hesitation in declaring that I concur in all the sentiments you express as to the policy of giving freedom to our Slaves under such modifications as may insure³ their happiness and promote the well being of our Country.⁴ The difficulty consists in arranging⁵ by such a scheme⁶ & for the accomplishment of these

I fear the Kentucky Lands are irretrievably gone; & I think we had better go to no further expence about them. I will however inquire of Judge Tod if Banks' deeds were recorded in time by the Laws of Kentucky.

     The following course of reading is recommended to a student of law who is willing to give 4 or 5 years to the study of the science before he engages in the practice.

     Your letter of the 1st Octr was recd by me in Philadelphia, & the answer was postponed until I could have an opportunity to write to Mr Morson upon whom I must rely to furnish the means of complying with your request. He has hitherto refused to pay his remaining bonds for the purchase of Laurel grove in consequence of Mr Beverley not having discharged Mr Bernards mortgage. I shall however write to him in relation to your claim & hope to prevail upon him to discharge it. I will write you the moment I hear from him, and am Sir respectfully yr ob. Sert

Circumstances, with which it is unecessary to trouble you, will prevent my leaving home in time to reach Phila. on the 11th. I could do so were I to travel alone, but Mrs. Washington's health will not permit¹ her to go forward as fast as would be necessary for that purpose. I hope to get to the City on the 12th so as to be ready to proceed to business the next day.

     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 

     One of your agents is now employed in revaluing my buildings at this place insured in your office. Since the former valuation, I have made the following buildings viz.

     Before the rect of your favor of the 7th I had written you fully on the business to which it relates. Since then, I have had another opportunity of writing to my agent on the Kenhawa, & I have again repeated my request that he will not fail to pay all the arrears of taxes due upon your lands & to draw upon me for the amount which it will be in my power to remit him before it will be necessary for him to make the advance.

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

     Since my return from Phila. I recd your letter of the 24 April— I have this day written to Mr Morson requesting him to pay Mr Bernard the sum you mention, and as I have no chance to recieve the residue due from Mr M. until Bernards encumbrance is fully discharged, I trust that you will be enabled to give me some assurances that this will speedily be accomplished.

     I have within a few days past recd a letter from Mr Morson, in answer to mine of the 4th of May requesting him to pay to Mr Bernard the amount of the debt due by my nephew to you. This he declines doing until you have paid, or are prepared to pay the balance due upon the mortgage, when, and not before, he will be ready & glad to discharge the whole of his debt to me.

     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.

     Observing by the 4th Sect. of the act of April 18th 1814.c.134 that the Secretary of State is authorized to transmit certain documents by mail to the Judges of the Supreme Court of the U.S. directed to any post office they may respectively designate, I take the liberty to request that those intended for myself may be sent to the Alexandria post office at your convenience. I have the honor to be very respectfully Yr mo. ob. Servt

     Previous to the rect of your letter, Milligans suit was confirmed, which is what you wish.

     I write in Court & have only time to congratulate you upon the good news from N. York & to request my Complts & best wishes to Mrs T.‑Believe me very sincerely & affectly yrs