In the letters lately addressed to you I have forgotten to mention a circumstance which deserves some attention. In the old books from which I extracted the facts composing the first volume I found our bay spilt thus—Chessapeake. Without any examination of the orthography I believe I have gone on to spell it in the same manner.

I had the pleasure this morning of recieving your favour of the 20th. I am heartily rejoiced at hearing of any proposition to print a 2d. Edition of the Life of Washington as it is one of the most desirable objects I have in this life to publish a corrected edition of that work.

I received your letter expressing your wish to know the principle decided in the case of the Bank of the U.S. v Dandridge’s securities. The case will be carried before the Supreme court & I am very glad of it, as the law on the subject ought to be settled.

     from the politeness that you made me when at your house at Mount Vernon, and the friendship that subsisted betwen your Uncle President Washington and my Hamilton I feel persuaded, had he out lived General Hamilton, he would have Aided me by Communications and papers in his possesion, that would be of great service to me, and from the above impression, I presume to make a request from you, that you, would let me, have such letters and papers, as will be of great valieu to me, you haveing long since had that Estimable work Compleated in rel

     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.

I thank you for the kind solicitude expressed in your letter of the 3d.

I had imprudently mounted a young horse who started & threw me as I was riding him to my farm. I was much hurt but no bone was broken & I shall be able to attend the court at Raleigh to which place I shall set out the day after tomorrow.

     I had the pleasure to recieve your letters by Mr Deleport and Mr Parish, and whilst I feel flattered by these proofs of your recollection, I have to thank you for introductions to two gentlemen who seem so well to deserve what you say of them. The former having favoured me with a visit, I had an opportunity of presenting him to Mrs Washington. The latter I saw in Philadelphia in May, and recieved from him a promise of his Company at Mount Vernon whenever he should go to the banks of the Potomack.

     I Have not Had, this long while, a letter from you, But my inquiries after you Have kept up a kind of Communication— the departure of a frigate affords me a More direct opportunity to advise you, and to Request an Answer By the dispatches which, no doubt, will Be Sent Early in the Spring— Every particular Respecting yourself and our friends will be very welcome.

     I recd some time since from the Chief Justice the Copies of the letters of Genl Washington, but too late in the Season to forward them to Phila. by water on account of the danger to be apprehended from the freezing of the rivers— I purpose taking them on with me in March, and it will be proper that we should, in the mean time, agree upon the terms of their publication.

     I have Just returned from Phila. when your favor of the 28th Sept. was put into my hands.