I have been frequently tempted to address you since I came to the City, but really I have had neither spirits or temper to render the employment a pleasant one. The conduct of certain men, in a certain place, has teased me more than I can easily describe to you, and the alternate hopes and fears which the accounts we have sometimes recd of the probable course which would be pursued there, have kept me in a state of excitement not the most pleasant in the world.

     I hasten, my dear Sir, to answer your favor of the 20^th recd. yesterday.

     I recd your favor under cover from Mr Ross by the last post. Upon an application made sometime ago to the Gentleman who had the care of Mr Campbells papers for those which belong to you, he informed me that he had recieved them in a state of such disorder that until they were arranged he could not s[ay] with certainty whether yours were amongst [th]em or not. so far as his examination had g[o]t, he had not discovered them. He promised to get them into order as soon [as] his professional engagements would pe[rmit].

     Having seen the death of Doctr Barton announced in the public prints & thinking it likely that some changs may take place in the Medical School at Phila., by which a Professor of Chemistry may be to be chosen, I have, after some hesitation, determined to use with you the freedom of a friend by mentioning our respectable fellow Citizen Robt Hare to fill that chair, should a vacancy be created.

     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.

Some time after receiving your letter dated in december, I wrote to E.J. Cole, of Baltimore, to forward the Journals you had deposited with him; but nothing further has been heard of them. I mentioned to Dr. Chapman, that as no agent had been appointed for this place, he might consider me as one: but finding myself totally unacquainted with such business, I have concluded it would be better to select a more suitable person. To the agent you may appoint in this city I will give the subscription in my possession, and continue to exert myself for the success of the work.

I have at length moved my Lodgings and find myself placed in the most disagreable situation that I ever expected to be— The British people whose House I have left mean to detain the articles I have there untill payment is made, and I have reason from their threats last night to apprehend the worst which my situation & the advantage it has given them over me can warrant— I have no chance to save myself from what my Sensibility abhors, but the performance of your oblidging promise— I had no way left me to appease them for a moment, but by promising to pay them to Day, ev

     I have this moment recd your letter of the 17th, and I am sorry to observe that you have not recieved the books. They were packed and sent to Alexa. before the 14th of June with directions to Adams & Herbert to forward them by the first conveyance to Baltimore to T. & S. Vance (as you requested) to whom I wrote by post informing them that they were for you. They were soon afterwards put on board of the Sloop Union Capt. Middleton, who recd a special charge to be careful of them, & I understand that he is a man of excellent character.

     I recd some days ago your letter without a date, in which you say that the purchase of the books amounts to almost a total loss. I have but one answer to give in addition to what I have formerly written— return the books as you recieved them, and draw upon me for the Sum you paid, with interest & the freight & expenses of their transportation to you.

     Were it inconvenient to me to take back the books I should still make you this offer. But this is not the case, as Mrs Washington is desirous to replace them in her library.¹

     Soon after my return from Phila. I recd the box of books mentioned in your letter of the 10th April. I find all the volumes of "Conviction"; but of "Crimes & characters" and "The Subterranean Cavern" there is one volume of each missing. These I shall return to you by the first safe opportunity. I packed the books myself when they were sent to you, and can therefore assert with confidence that their was not one volume deficient. After deducting the price of the above books viz. £ 1.10 Llg. you can draw upon me at any time for the balance payable at sight.