Since my return home I recd your acceptable letter of the 20th April, informing me that you had brought our business with Hooe to a close, which, but for your energy on the occasion, would, I believe have long remained open.
I had a short session at Phila, and decided but few Cases, but most of these are interesting. Without further preface, I proceed to give you an abbreviated report of them.
The Corporation of the City of New York have caused medals to be struck to commemorate the completion of the Erie Canal which unites the great Western Lakes with the Alantic Ocean.
All my endeavours to find a pamphlet published many years ago, for Chief Justice Marshall have failed. it is entitled "Calm Observer." published during a period when the two great parties in the U.S. were highly excited, farmer Giles, the supposed, or perhaps acknowledged author. If you can procure it by purchase or loan, & forward it to the Chief Justice as soon as possible, he will acknowledge it as a singular favour. I am in haste, my dear Sir very sincerely & affectly yrs
I have to acknowledge the rect of your favor of the 16th of last month, informing me that the tenth anniversary of the American bible Society will be celebrated in New York on the second thursday of next month.
I have this moment recd your favor of the 27th, and am much disappointed, not that the money due by Mr Hooe was not forthcoming, but that he should postpone the execution of the mortgage. I hope however that both will be performed at the next Court, but particularly the latter, as I am anxious to have the business closed, & the necessity for further negotiations with him terminated. He is right in his representation that the price of the land was understood between us to be $3.33 1/3 & I wish You so to adjust it.
Your letter of the 26th Jany was delivered to me by Mr Just. Story & I owe you an apology for the delay which has taken place in answering it. The truth is that at the living under the same roof the important cases which the Judges have had to examine & discuss in conference diverted the attention of the C. Justice & myself from the subject insomuch that it is but lately that we had an opportunity of conversing upon it.
Your letter of the 26th January was handed me by Mr Justice Story, and I owe you an apology for the delay which has taken place in answering it. The truth is that, although living under the same roof, the important cases which the Judges have had to examine and discuss in conference, diverted the attention of the C. Justice & myself from the subject, insomuch, that it is but lately that we had an opportunity of conversing upon it.
I was concerned to hear that you were indisposed by a rheumatic attack which had fixed its venom in your right hand. I hope it has departed from that indispensable part of your judicial machinery; & that, at all events your tongue may be clear of it. I have had a long & irksome spell of the Influenza, which has reduced me to almost a Skeleton; but I have completely recovered from the malady, tho still debilitated by its effects.
I much regret that it will not be in my power to prepare my answer to Mr Parks bill until I can have an opportunity to refer to my papers. This Shall be attended to as soon as I return home. I shall deliver the bill, as you direct, to Mr Shelly. I am very respectfully yr mo. ob. Servt
In answer to your letter, requesting such information on the Subject of the valedectory address which was published in 1796, with the signature of George Washington as it may be in my power to give, I beg leave to state, that the papers bequeathed to me, so far as I have examined them, afford no ground whatever for attributing the composition of that paper to any other than the person whose Signature it bears.
I wrote to Mr Moore for his statement of Ransoms debt, & recieved for answer that Ransoms statement was correct provided he is entitled to $897 paid the commissioners. This is quite a new item to me which I do not understand. Will you be so good as to send me that Statement by the bearer that I may examine it? I am anxious to know what sum to debit you with on that account, & also affix the value of the bank stock that we must do tomorrow in town, <illegible> I can make the transfers <mutilated> you. yrs affectly
In march last I reported the case of Alexander vs. Washington for which my fee amounted to $11:23 of which I wrote you & have not since been favoured with a reply. With much respect yr obt Srt
With this I send you a letter for Judge Washington, and another for Judge Marshall. I have referred them both to you for any further explanations they may desire. You are already so thoroughly possessed of my views and plans, that I have nothing more to say as to the main points. I am sure, if Judge Washington can be brought to see the thing in all its bearings, he will not withhold his approbation; and the business certainly could not be in better hands than your own.
You may perhaps recollect, that nearly two years ago I wrote you concerning a design, which a friend of mine then had, of publishing an edition of "General Washington's Works." As he did not carry his purpose into execution, I was myself led to examine the subject, and have read with great attention such of the writings of General Washington as I have been able to obtain. I have also made numerous inquiries, respecting his official letters to the Governor's of the States during the revolution, and to the principal officers of the army.
The foregoing are the principal cases decided in my last Circuit, which are susceptible of an abridged statement, that will make the case intelligible. Many more cases were before the Court but the questions of law decided were not new in principle, and so involved with the facts, that I must pass them over.
The American Colonization Society has been enabled by the liberal patronage of their fellow-citizens of the several states, (and it numbers among these friends and contributors many of the citizens of [<2m#>]) to explore the coast of Africa to find an asylum to which the free coloured population of our country might be safely removed.— The annual reports of their proceedings, (accompanying this memorial) will show what their labours have effected.
I send you the only letter from Doct Jenifer which I can find. But before you take the trouble of a ride to Port Tobacco, will it not be well to enquire whether the debt is not so clearly barred by the act of limitations as to render the case desperate? I do not know the nature of it— In great haste I am most sincerely & affectly yrs
My lawyer in the Court of Chancery writes me that no bond in Mr Lee's injunction was found amongst the papers in that Court, and unless one has been given, with security, as in other Cases, the Chancellor has decided that the injunction is of no avail to prevent an execution. You will much oblige me by informing me whether any has been filed in the Court where the Judgment was rendered? I am with great regard Dear Sir very sincerely yrs
Your letter of the 25th Ulto was put into my hands after my return from Phila., <&> in the early part of this month, at which time & for Some weeks afterwards, I was engaged in business, which from the Sitting of the Court in Alexa. where it was to be transacted, admitted of no delay. This must be my apology for not having sooner returned you an answer.
I recd your letter last night as I was on my way to bed, & except for the unexpected Circumstance of Henry's calling this morning at M.V.— I should not have had the opportunity to assure you & Mr Hughs of the great pleasure it will afford me to recieve your visit tomorrow & for the holydays as I hope. Present me very sincerely & respectfully to Mr H. & believe me truly Yr Affect. Uncle
At length I have got sufficiently released from more urgent business to enable me to perform my promise to forward you a report of the cases which came before me on my late Circuit. I think I sent you from Phila. printed statements of1 Pennock & Sellers vs. Dialogue & Courcier vs. Ritter— These will therefore be omitted from this letter.
I returned home the day before yesterday after an absence of about four months. It was my intention not to address you until I could get time to forward you my report of the decisions made on my late Circuit, many of which are highly interesting.