In writing the history of Genl Washington's life, it is sometimes difficult to acquire a clear view of some of the operations of the Armies without obtaining a more precise explanation of some circumstances than can be derived from the papers in my possession, without a very laborious examination of them, and even then,  there are some points which would require for their illustration—such for instance as geographical situation of particular places, their distances from each other &c. 

     Your favor of the 7th March came to hand by the last post, but too late to permit an answer to be returned before the present time. I have never condemned you for demanding of the executors of your father or of their representatives a settlement of their accounts, and altho' I thought it unkind to institute a Suit agt me until such a call had been unsuccessfully made, I am perfectly satisfied with the reasons assigned in your letter for having proceeded in that way.

Your letter dated in September came lately to my hands after having made a circuitous rout through many distant post offices as appears from the endorsements on it.

     Amongst the trunks & boxes sent over to the Chief Justice by Capt. Laycock is one which ought not to have gone as it contains some papers of a private nature, and the residue which are connected with the Life. I shall devote this winter to arranging & compiling so as to assist the Chief Justice & hasten the work‑ It is an old trunk not locked I believe, but confined by a rope & leather naild at each end to keep the top down. The trunks which are to remain are numbered 1, 4 & 6.

     I enclose you my note negotiable at the bank for $875 which you will much oblige me by getting discounted on Monday next when I expect to be in Alexandria. I will then give you the necessary draft on the bank of the U.S. I am very sincerely yrs

     Capt. Laycock carries a number of trunks & boxes of papers to the Chief Justice, and as he will be absent from Richmond when they arrive I must beg the favor of you to have them lodged in some place of Safety in Mr Marshall's house or if this cannot be done in your own if not too inconvenient. They are the papers which relate to the life of Genl Washington & I therefore feel extremely anxious for their safe keeping.

     Lest my former letter to Monr La fayette which I took the liberty to trouble you with should miscarry I have written another enclosing a copy of the former, which I beg leave to recommend to your care, and to request that you will have the goodness to give it the earliest conveyance to France. I am very respectfully Sir Yr mo. ob. Servt

     The enclosed letter was written some months ago and waited only for a safe conveyance to France which I at length hoped would be afforded by the mission of Mr Dawson, but he unfortunately took his departure from the City before the letter got there. I now beg leave to recommend it to your care, and request that you will have the goodness to forward it by the first opportunity to Mr Fayette. I have the honour to be Sir Yr mo. ob. Servt

     I am favd with your circular letter respecting Mrs Washington's wish to surrender into the hands of the Executors of the late Genl Washington, all that part of her life Estate at present taxable, which derives her no profit, and yet is in her possession. I cannot but agree with you in opinion that such property as wou'd be inconvenient to divide should be sold.

     I have Just read over the Case of Sperry vs. DE Ins. Co. & find it as all my notes of cases must necessarily be from the hurry in which they are made, extremely inaccurate in Style & in everything but substance. I trust therefore that you will consider my report of this as of all other cases nothing more than rough notes, to be corrected & reformed in your own way[.] If I did not calculate upon these corrections, I should not suffer copies to be taken until I could find time to transcribe then.

     We are all thunderstruck here by Genl Hamilton's pamphlet— If it was intended to promote the election of Genl Pinkney, it is seriously believed by his best friends here that it will produce quite a contrary effect. Such an attempt could not fail to excite the Jealousy of many federalists who are either personally attached to Mr Adams and for this reason would wish him to fill the chair of Chief Magistrate, or who for political reasons would wish to avoid a serious decision of the party by his rejection.

     At Sight please pay to Colo. Charles Simms or order for value recieved eight-hundred and seventy five dollars the amount of one quarter's Salary due to me as one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States on the first instant yr He Sert

Your favour bearing date the 18th Inst. was duly Recd. accept my thanks for your promise of particular attention to my request, – and be assured I shall esteem myself highly honored by should your choice devolve on me. — 

     Some short time before the Death of Genl Washington, I recd a Letter from him enclosing a Deed from Genl H. Lee to him for certain Lands in this State lying on Rough Creek, which he desired me to have recorded in the proper Office.

     I recieved from Mr Hare some time ago the enclosed account. I[f] recollected it may be well to send on the mony by me when I go to Philada. Mr Chs Lee gave me an opinion respecting some points on which doubts arose concerning Mrs Washington's claim to rents & interest not due at the time of the General's death. You will please to enquire what his fee is & pay it.

"... I cannot help thinking that Genl. Marshall may be induced to undertake the writing of the history, and I write to him by this post...I am extremely anxious to see this work commenced & finished as well upon your account as my own...as pecuniary considerations are less operative with me than many others I cannot be otherwise than very nice in selecting a proper person to be the author..." 

     I must again beg the favor of you to get the enclosed note discounted for me at the bank. I expect to have the pleasure of seeing you in the course of four or five days when I can give you the necessary draft on the Cashier of the bank of the U.S.

I find that the Judiciary bill is postponed to the next Session, so that we shall have to ride the fall Circuits. Presuming that the Southern Circuit will be extremely disagreable and inconvenient to you, and feeling that it will be not more so to me than the Eastern, which falls to me in the regular course, I propose that we exchange, so as to produce an accomodation to both.

     So soon as I found myself the legatee of the papers of my late Uncle Genl Washington, I presumed that the public would expect from me the history of a life so conspicuously employed as his was in the civil & military affairs of this Country. Your observations have impressed me very fully with the propriety of having such a history prepared for publication as speedily as circumstances will admit.

We have the honor to enclose to your Lordship a copy of the will of the late Genl George Washington who departed this life at Mount Vernon in Virginia on the 14th day of december last after a short but painful illness; and through the politeness of his Britannic Majesty's Minister we are enabled to transmit to you "the Box made of the Oak that sheltered the Great Sir William Wallace after the battle of Falkirk" bequeathed to your Lordship in the 14th clause of the Will. With sentiments of profound respect We have the honor to be Your Lordship's most obedt and very humb.

     The improved Lot in Alexandria; the household furniture including (as I concieve in that description,) the pictures & plate; the kitchen furniture; the liquors, groceries & dead victuals laid in at the time of the General's death belong absolutely to you & may be disposed of by you, when & how you please.

     Upon my return to Westmoreland I found the price of corn so encreased that ­it could not be purchased in any quantity for less than fifteen shillings per barrel. Colo. Washington is the only considerable corn maker in this County upon the Potomack, and has agreed to let you have 600 barrels at the above price and to wait for the mony until the 1st of May.

Mrs Washington will be very much Oblidged by Judge Washington Solving the following Querys.

1st. When the Farm of Doguerun was let to Mr Lewis, Was it meant that the wheat sown on that Farm last Fall, And the expense of puting the same into the Ground should be paid for?

The Will should be proved at the first Fairfax Court, and this can be easily done by Mr Lewis's carrying it up and presenting it to the Court for probate, the whole of it being in the Testator's own hand writing and that well Known by most of the members of the Court.

     I came here on thursday last on a bed laid in the carriage & did not experience so much fatigue as I expected— Docr Dick was called in next day, who has had my case under serious consideration ever since— He requested a consultation with Docr Rose, which they commenced yesterday, & finished today, the result of which will be delivered me in writing before I quit Town, until I do, Docr Dick will attend me daily, & Docr Rose occasionally— They both agree that a water voyage to Norfolk & then in the bay as long as the weather will permit is not to be disp