Your letter of the 9th came to my hand last night. What the abilities of my deceased brother Samls Estate towards paying his debts, may be, I am unable to say; but I much fear that the management of it is in very bad hands; as the hours of your Uncle Charles are—I have reason to believe—spent in intoxication. This circumstance, added to a natural indolence, leaves too much to the Steward to expect industry and fair dealing; unless he differs widely from the generallity of his class.

I have been in the Country for two months, returned here yesterday, and am obliged to leave this tomorrow morning on my Connecticut Circuit, And I have not been able to obtain the information you wish respecting the School on Long Island. Immediately on my return which will probably be in a few days, I will make the Enquiry and write you— I presume the School to which you allude is at Jamaica.

     Your letter of the 9th I recd a day or two ago. From one recd from Mr Hopkins I have no doubt that the mony was paid to the Cashier of the Company & when he comes up which I expect w[i]ll be by the time I return from Jefferson (say 10, or 12 days) I will get the cashiers rect & forward it to you. If from any circumstance it has not been paid, I will immediately after knowing this to be the case, remit the mony in some safe way, or procure a draft on yr town.

     One of your agents is now employed in revaluing my buildings at this place insured in your office. Since the former valuation, I have made the following buildings viz.

     After thanking you for having waited so long for the money due upon my nephew's first bond last July, I have to inform you that if you will send it to your agent in Alexandria with an order on Mr Nob. Herbert to pay it, he will do so on Sight. Your further indulgence as to the other bond will oblige me, as I am not sure of recieving funds for its discharge before the 1st of Jany next, when the second payment for Laurel Grove, (which I have sold to Mr Morson) will become due.

I embrace the first moment of relief from more urgent business to perform my promise to report to you the substance of the decisions made during my last circuit which may be worthy of your notice.

     I now enclose you a deed for your part of the General's estate sold me, which I will thank you to execute as soon as you possibly can, lest accidents to you or I might produce embarrassments which might be unpleasant to the survivor. I have annexed to the deed a Commission for the privy examination of Cousin Lewis, and you will have to get two magistrates to attend at your house to take it.

     The Post will sett off in 10 Minutes so that you may expect that that time can only be devoted to Business.

     I take the liberty of enclosing an Account against the Executors of the Will of the late General Washington, for services rendered after the General's death on account of his Estate. I have hitherto forborne exhibiting this account, hoping that the Executors, who knew of my employment, would have spoken to me on the Subject, and that a settlement would have taken place 'ere this.

I have at length returned home, after an absence of between 4 & 5 months, and I employ the first moments of leisure in reporting to you & brother Story the most interesting cases which came before me for Judgt during my late circuit. I shall say nothing of the Atlantic ins. Co. of N. Y. and the U. S.² which employed us very closely for 9 days, as the case will go to the Supreme Court.