Immediately on receiving your letter I sent my servant back to Monticello for the Memo of the agreement between you & Mr Jefferson, which I had left not thinking I shd want it. The journey cannot be performed in less than 4 days & at the expiration of that time it shall be returned to you...

Several days have elapsed since I arrived here from my expedition to the mountains, but I have been so much indisposed that I could not with ease proceed immediately to Richmond. I am extremely impatient to set out for New-York where my time would be much more profitably spent, & wish if it...

With respect to the boys I never till lately doubted but that I should be able to give them a competence as comfortable farmers: and no station is more honorable or happy than that.

Mr. Madison & myself are so far on the tour we had projected ... we were more pleased however with the botanical objects which continually presented themselves. those either unknown or rare in Virginia were the Sugar maple in vast abundance, the Thuya, silver fir, White pine, Pitch pine,...

I inclose you some seeds of the Acacia Farnesiana, the most delicious flowering shrub in the world.

Locke’s little book on government is perfect as far as it goes.

in the science of government Montesquieu’s spirit of laws is generally recommended. it contains indeed a great number of political truths; but also an equal number of heresies: so that the reader must be constantly on his guard.

in political œconomy I think Smith’s wealth of nations the best book extant.

the study of the law is useful in a variety of points of view. it qualifies a man to be useful to himself, to his neighbors, & to the public.

In persuance of a Resolution of Congress of the 11th of January last, and of one of the 4th of February following, I have the honor to transmit to you herewith a copy of the Secret Journal of the Old Congress, in 4. vols. together with a printed copy of the Marshal’s Returns of the 4th Census. I...