While at Mount Vernon I delivered you the affidavit of T. Marshall stating that he never received the certificate which you were so obliging as to obtain for him & I now enclose you mine that I have lost it. I have no doubt that they will be sufficient to obtain the renewal of the certificate; but I believe that some bond must be executed before it can issue. I do not know how this is to be filled up & suppose it must contain a description of the certificate which I cannot make.

Your letter of the 13th reached me this morning. the question you propose had never before attracted my attention. Without examining the subject I had taken it for granted that the power of passing bankrupt laws resided in the states. It now appears to me more doubtful than I had supposed it to be.

As the time for our session approaches I become anxious to know what our situation will be. Can you inform me what provision is made for us? Where and in what kind of a room are we to sit?

As peace will I hope restore commerce to the United States I have again turned my attention to the profession for which I originally intended my son James. He is now at Cambridge, but I should remove him without hesitation the instant it becomes proper to place him in a counting house. He was fifteen in february last & has made as great a proficiency in his studies as is usual with boys of that age.

I have received your letter requesting to know whether I had formed an opinion on the case which was remanded to the circuit court of Pennsylvania. I regret that I had not formed one. It would give me pleasure to communicate it to you.

     Inclosed are the papers I had selected for Mr Lee & yourself some time past, for the defence of the suit brout against me by Mr Braxton, & will I hope be sufficient in the Settling of the Business. The trouble Writing gives as my Sight fails, makes me Wish to see you, & suppose you will attend the Court at Dumfries, if so, beg you will <illegible> us hear, & if Possible I will meet you. Unless you should be coming up to this Neighbourhood when we should claim a Visit Exclusive of Business.

     I had the honor to recieve your favor of the 16th Jany some days ago, and have postponed an answer to it, hoping that with the a<illegible> from memoranda I <illegible> the information requested— But <I> cann<ot>[.] all that I recol<l>ect of Mr Nortons Affair is that I saw & ap<p>roved of the deed, and upon expressing that approbation in writing Mr Blair I suppose paid the mony— The deed I am satisfied was forwarded to Mr Prescot, for I recollect giving him directions respecting the mode of proving it so as to

     I recieved the letter which you did me the honor to write and now enclose You a Copy of Gills Bill, which is this moment recieved. You will please get some professional Gentleman to draw your answer, which together with the Copy now enclosed send me as soon as possible.

     You may rely upon my best exertions being used for your interest‑ I have the honor to be Madam Yr mo. ob. Servt

     I take the liberty of Enclosing you a Copy of the foederal Convention, and of the resolutions of our house upon the same subject. An attempt has been made to repeal the Port law, but it has been rejected by a very great majority who nevertheless seem disposed to amend it, in such a manner as to confine the restrictions to foreign vessels only & either to have but one Port at Norfolk or a great many. if the latter method is adopted I hope we may get one at Yeocomico.

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.