I recd a letter from chief Justice Marshall a a few days ago, in which he requests me to present to you in his name, a copy of his “history of the Colonies,” a compliment which he thinks due to you “on account of your great attention to the publication of the life of Washington.["] He desires me to state to you, that he has taken the precaution to take out a copy right for the book now sent you, to prevent the interference of others—not to affect you.

I have expected to hear from you since you have had an opportunity to look into the trunks and chests last sent up for the volume of letters containing those which have not been copied, and am uneasy at not receiving a letter from you. I have been apprehensive that you have been prevented by indisposition. Still, as I have not heard of your being sick I will flatter my self that some accident has prevented your looking into the trunks, or has prevented your writing.

I have received your letter of the 2nd instant, & in reply beg leave to say that, with the approbation of the Secty of the Navy, I will most cheerfully receive Mr Busrod W. Turner as one of the midshipmen of the N. Carolina. With the highest respect & Esteem I am Dr Sir yr. ob. Svt

     I Would Before this time Have Called Upon You, Had I not Been Apprised You prefer Coming Here. This is my arrangement for the day; I Shall be at Home Untill Twelve than I must go to the old Congress Hall Thre Hours; Burgate Brown and the officers of the Army, and a Committee from Wilmington Have Announced their Visit betwen ten and Twelve; at Thre I Will Return Here to Wait for You, Unless You Have Come Before. I expect no Visits from thre to four.

     Having been detained in the lower Country longer than I expected, Your letter of the 24. June was not receivd until this day.

     After further reflection on the subject of appointing mates, I am under the impression, that the system already commenced would be much better supported by ordering a Board. This would also relieve the Department from much importunity. I have considered it proper to make this statement, as my opinion has been changed since yesterday. I have the honor to be very respectfully

     While literature in other countries is languishing for want of encouragement from the great, and leagued oppression is striving unremittedly to quench the blaze of Science, and sweep from earth all that adorns mankind; We feel an honest pride in courting the approbation of one, who, though perhaps engaged in a multiplicity of other concerns, must view with interest the daw[n]ing Splendour of our national literature.

     I have just received by yesterday’s mail your favor of the 15th instant.

     As it will be seen by the record of the Board, that many of those examined have been rejected, I beg leave to propose that the names of such as passed may not be published by the Department, since it would be the means of exposing the other candidates, whose misfortune we sincerely lament; for apart from their profession, they are all worthy men, and have our warmest esteem.

     I must again trouble you upon the subject of the suit brought by Mr Swann in the Name of Genl Washingtons Exectrs vs. Ludwell Lee Exect. This Lee & to enquire whether the action is in as languishing a State as it was when you wrote me on the 22d Jany 1819. If it be so, I must beg the favor of you to mark your name to the suit and to hasten it on to a speedy trial, as I am Just closing our Exectrs accounts.

     with pleasure I take this oppertunity to inform you that I am in good helth, Hooping these fiew lines may finde you injoying the same blessing— I have nothing of importence to inform you of at the preasentt time, Only I have¹ not yet got that mony you sente me and I have received your letter which gave me grate Satdisfaction to heare from you.

     I return you my sincere acknowledgements for your kind favor of the 5th inst., and also for the pamphlet containing Mr Fiske’s address to the Worcester agricultural Society, which I have read, and from the many Judicious observations which it contains, I conclude that this Gentleman is not only a scientific but a practical Agriculturist.

I have not heard from you since your letter informing me that you had discharged your juries in Philadelphia, & cannot help being a little apprehensive that your health is not so firm as I could wish it to be. I hope my fears will soon be removed.

Since my return from my northern Circuit I recd your favor of the 2d april, which had been lying some time in the Alexandria post office.

I presume you are now at Mount Vernon & I hope in better health than when I heard from you in Philadelphia.

     The anxiety for the publication of the decisions prior to my reports has induced me to undertake the same, provided a sufficient number of subscribers can be obtained to pay the Expenses of printing— I have therefore prepared the prospectus which I send to you & which I hope you will approve of.

     I wrote you in the month of March but hearing you were then from home, I again take up my pen to inform you of my unhappy and deplorable situation which has distroyed my health (not having necessary Clothing and nourishing food I have not a second suit and some times we have nothing but indian meal, that is enough to distroy the strongest constitution) it is my wish to try and get necessary Clothing to go to the Country untill it is in Fathers power to suport us comfortably I do not wish expensive apparel I merely want enough to be neat in, you must excuse the liberty as I could not th

     My letter to Maurice informed you of the severe inflammatory attack on my breast which then confined me to my room. The pain has nearly disappeared, and I am rapidly recovering the Strength of which the depleting System to which I was subjected had deprived me. The Doctr comsents to my returning to Court the day after tomorrow. Should my health not be again interrupted, I trust it will be in my power to finish the cases which are to be tried in the course of a fortnight.

     I now enclose you for the Countess a letter from Genl W.— It was addressed to myself, as might be expected, since it could be only by accident that I could have letters written with his own hand to any other person. I hope you will recieve it in time. In 4 days from this I commence my Journey to Phila. Farewell & believe to be with great regard—sincerely yr

The Session of the Supreme Court will terminate today, after a continuance of 54 days, during which time, we have disposed of about 66 causes, many of them difficult, & some greatly interesting to the Nation. I shall return to Mount Vernon without delay, and endeavour to hasten the preparations for my Northern Journey. The unusual length of the Session puts it totally out of my power to go to Trenton; and I fear that I shall not be able to get to Phila. before the 2d or 3d day of the Court.

In the Account of the Executors of Genl Washington against Capt. George S. Washington which was enclosed to me, I find the following charges. viz.:

     I recd, sometime during the last month, your favor of the 20th of January, which I should have acknowledged immediately, if its contents had seemed to require it, and if I had not supposed that my letter to your daughter upon the same Subject would be promptly communicated to you. I can say nothing more at present but to repeat the assurances given to her of my earnest wish to serve you in this, or in any other way in my power, and of the zeal with which I shall exert myself to do so when the occasion alluded to shall offer.

     I have never, that I can recollect, refused to comply with a request similar to that contained in your letter of the 8th inst. in behalf of the Countess charlotte, and if I had been heretofore in the habit of doing so, I should most certainly make an exception in your favor, and upon such an occasion.

     I have examined with attention & pleasure the portrait you have drawn of Genl Washington, and I feel no hesitation in pronouncing it, according to my best Judgement, the most exact representation of the original that I have ever seen. The features, as well as the character of his Countenance, are happily depicted. I am sir very respectfully yr mo. ob. Servt

The object of this letter is to give you the name & place of residence of the gentleman on whose account I spoke to you this morning, as they may escape your recollection.

"William Griffith, Burlington, New Jersey." Sincerely yrs