University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MADISON.

Hond Sir,—In obedience to your requests I
hereby send you an answer to your's of the 25th of
Sept. which I received this morning. My Letter by
Dr. Witherspoon who left this place yesterday week
contains most of what you desire to be informed. I
am exceedingly rejoiced to hear of the happy deliverance
of my Mother & would fain hope your rheumatic

pains will not continue much longer. The Bill
of exchange was very acceptable. Though I cannot
say I have been as yet very much pressed by my
creditors. Since I got the Bill I have been making
a calculation of my past & future expences & find it
nothing more than a bare competency the reason of
which I dare say you will not ascribe to extravagance
when you read my letter of last week. If I come
home in the Spring the purchase of a horse & travelling
expences I am apprehensive will amount to more
than I can reserve out of my present stock for those
purposes so that it would not be amiss perhaps if you
were to send a few Half-Jos: by Dr. Witherspoon or
Colo. Lewis's sons if they return, or some safe hand
afterwards as best suits you. I should be glad if
your health & other circumstances should enable you
to visit D. Witherspoon during his stay in Virginia.
I am persuaded you would be much pleased with him
& that he would be very glad to see you. If you
should not be able to see him nor send to him Col°.
Lewis or any other Gentleman in Fredericksburgh
would advance what money I am to have at the least
intimation from you. If you should ever send me
any Bills hereafter, it will be best for you to make
them payable to Dr. Witherspoon, which will give
him an opportunity to endorse them & greatly help
me in getting them, if it should so happen that you
see him, please to mention it to him. I am sorry
Mr. Chew's mode of Conveyance will not answer in
Virginia. I expect to hear from him in a few days
by return of a man belonging to this Town from
New London & shall then acquaint him with it and
get it remedied by the methods you propose. Mr.
James Martin was here at Commencement and had
an opportunity of hearing from his Brothers & friends
in Carolina by a young man lately come from thence
to this College however I shall follow your directions
in writing to him immediately & visiting him as soon
as I find it convenient.

You may tell Mrs. Martin he left his Family at
home all well. If you think proper that I should
come back to this place after my journey to Virginia
in the Spring & spend the Summer here you may
send the cloth for my coat which I am extremely
pleased with & could have wished it had come time
enough to have used this Summer past, if you chuse
rather I should remain in Virginia next Summer it
will be unnecessary.