I have long thought that a work upon the plan you suggest, was much wanted by those who form the great bulk of readers on chemical subjects.

     I should much sooner have acknowledged your favor 19th July if I had not thought it most proper to wait until I should recieve Mr Vaughn's communication. This not having taken place, I can no longer withhold from the American philosophical Society the expression of my thanks for the distinguished honor they have conferred on me by the election you have been pleased to announce.

I have watched with anxious solicitude the successive reports of your board of health, always hoping that some favorable change would take place in the State of the disorder which seemed to threaten your City. The last accounts appear to us very alarming, particularly as they correspond very nearly with those from New York, Baltimore & Norfolk, & seem for this reason to prove that the Sickness is not local, but dependent in a great measure on the unfriendliness of the season, aided no doubt by imported causes.

     I have just received yours of the 2nd inclosing a statement of my a/c with the estate. I have to observe that as soon as my present crops can be gotten to market which form my entire resources the amount of balance shall be paid without fail— The present unhappy & distressing situation of Mr Fitzhughs family owing to the illness of Mrs F. prevents my going below at this time or I would endeavour to anticipate my crop— Be assured the produce of my Estates shall be appropriated to discharge this a/c as soon as possible. It might be well to have our Col.

In a letter dated June 12th to Saml Washington I enclosed a mortgage to be executed by Colo. Thornton of the Fauquier land, and also one to be executed by himself of the horse shoe tract with directions for selling them proved & certified. After this letter copied I this day inserted a postscript calling on him for the $427.1 or so much of it as is due from him.

—

J. Madison presents his respects to Judge Washington, and encloses the memorandum of Mr Taylor, with such additions as will give all the information necessary on the law stated by Judge Washington.

On the Jefferson administration. "To what a deplorable and contemptible situation is this country reduced! How illy rewarded are the laudable exertions of our forefathers," etc.

     I should have answered your letter of the 15th of feby much sooner if I had not expected that a meeting of the legatees would take place in the course of the summer, when I should have an opportunity of taking¹ their opinion as to the further delay you had requested.² Altho I strongly wished to afford you every indulgence in my power, yet as many of the legatees have never recd any part of the estate, I thought it but right that they at least shd be consulted.

     We are so pressed by the creditor legatees that we are compelled to call upon those who have purchased over their shares for what is due from them.

     Please say when you can make us a payt & to what amount.

I yesterday recd a very discouraging letter from Mrs Washington from which I beg leave to trouble you with the following extracts. She says that the pain in her side encreases, and has for several days past been accompanied by a dull pain (as heretofore felt) in the shoulder; occasionally in the wrist and other Joints. She is certain she has night fevers– Wants appetite & sleeps badly. She has for some days discontinued the steel & bark being afraid, & very Justly she thinks, that those medicines have done injury to her side.

     As Mr R. B. Lee has informed me he cannot carry into effect the Proposition he was to make for acct of Genl Lee & as I see no prospect whatever of getting pa<y>ment but thro' a Sale of the Estate, I will thank you as soon as convenient to transmit the Advertizement. I would prefer your leaving the Day of Sale Blan<k> & I will fill it up‑Very Respectfully

     The enclosed papers were left with me by Mr Geo: Washington for your inspection Mr Hammond he said wished to know whether from them he is to considered a legatee.

I cannot find Sheppards letter I am very certain I gave it to you we were comparing it with the Will, & it is probable you put it up with that, it is of much consequence to me as it has a Receipt upon it for the money paid by me. Be so good as to send me Marshall’s receipt. Yours most sincerely

     I cant find Mr Marshall rect but have written to him to send you another immediately. I am pretty sure I took one & could find it if I was less hurried. I have found Shephards letter of the 30th June to me with the rect to you, which I enclose you together with his last letter to me, that you may know how to pay the taxes. Please preserve these letters, as they will be very useful in future.

     I observe two notices in the alexandria papers from the mutual insurance company, which I do not know how to understand. The one informs the members that a meeting is requested on the 8th of april, and States that at present none of them are insured. I am perfectly at a loss to concieve what circumstance can have placed us in this awkward predicament. We have paid our premiums, and no legitimate demands remains unsatisfied with which I am acquainted. I understood that the repartition formerly asked for had been dispensed with at the general meeting.

     Having endeavored in vain to obtain a Settlement with Genl Lee, I am again induced to trouble you to advertize that part of the Property deeded in Trust laying in Westmorland County known by the name of Hollis's Marsh the other property if this proves difficient may be hereafter advertiz'd, unless you think it more correct, to insert the whole at once.

     There will be due for Interest on the Bond next month 5500 Dolls. not 1 Shilling of Interest having been paid since the 17 Octr 99.

yours of 15 Jan. I recd, a few days since at the Gloucester post office— I should have writen you much sooner but continued to hope that you would hear from Me to more effect— I lament that it has not been in my power to comply with the promise I made you— I made that promise in expectation of geting the money upon a Judgmt I had obtain'd but the party against whom it was have found means Still to delay me— I cannot however feel any reluctance in complying with the alternative contain'd in the proposition in my lettr of the last year.

     Below is Stated an Acct pd by me & which all the Legatees stand charged with. this is exclusive of money paid them on Acct of the money recd of Ship and which I have not stated. the Money was deposited in the Bank of Alexandria, and our joint checks will shew how that has been paid away— I will state H. Lewis A/c. which will shew how all the suit stand.

     Dr Howell Lewis in Acct with the Executors Genl Washington

1802

My late indisposition has been such as to prevent me from attending the meetg of the Legatees agreeably to notice— We have sent you a power of Attorney—and have taken the liberty of inserting your name. you will be oblidging enough to transact the business for us— I have also enclosed you a mortgage for the property I bought in alexandria and will thank you, when convenient, to forward me a Deed. yrs respectfully

Mrs Washington’s mouth having got much better, we commenced the application of the mercurial ointment about ten nights ago. After using it for two nights, she became apprehensive that it had affected her mouth, and of course it was thought best to discontinue the operation untill these symptoms should disappear. At this period, the experiment was extremely flattering to our hopes. To use Mrs W’s expression, the ointment, with the gentle friction used in rubbing it on, acted upon the pain in the side like a charm.

     Our correspondence is slow in becoming mutual. The great uncertainty of receiving letters by mail has made me believe that my last has miscarried. I am sure you would have been attentive to our agreement had not this been the case. As I was the first to write, and my leter not having been received, I feel it my duty to proscute my engagement.

Capt. Hammond has come prepard to make some arrangement with you as it regards the claim of the Estate upon him, he wishes me to say that the arrangement made between you will be agreeable to me I have no hesitation in saying that any agreement you may enter into with him I will confirm. I am most truly yours

Whilst I was in Richmond, Mrs Washington commenced the taking of the mercurial pills, and having most unfortunately persevered too long, even after the soreness in the mouth had taken place, a kind of salivation was brought on, & though not attended by a spilling, her tongue & mouth have been for 8 or 10 days so much swollen, that she has been unable to take any kind of nourishment not in a liquid form. Her mouth is now somewhat better, but I am greatly alarmed by the return of the pain in the side which had almost ceased.

     It ought to have been my fate to Introduce General Moreau to my paternal friend there to meet the Welcome adequate to his Worth. But since he can only visit the venerated Mansion, I know that you, my dear Sir, and all the family will have due feelings for the Circumstance of Receiving Moreau under the late Roof of Washington— Let me only add that, with much Regret not to be one of you in receiving him. I am very affectionately Yours.

I recd a letter from Mrs Washington last night which has rendered me very unhappy. She appears to be much alarmed at her present state of health, and has described the symptoms very minutely to be submitted to you. She says she recollects you asked her if she was ever sensible of a pain in her right arm or shoulder, & seemed to think her answer in the negative a fortunate circumstance. But she now feels that pain and had done so for ten days, and with it a considerable increase of the pain in her side which never leaves her for a moment.