According to promise I enclose the pages of the Senate Journal which contain the principles of the Bill establishing the (for the Commonwealth of Penna) Weights and Measures—this Bill was recommended to the attention of the present Session, and is now refered to a special Committee of which being first named it becomes a duty to give it every usefull attention.

Beleiving that I cannot become more valuable to my fellow men, than by endeavouring to establish good regulations and by promoting internal resources, and knowing this disposition to be congenial with the whole tenor of your life I should have hoped for communication on a subject with which you are so well acquainted should you see cause for improvement, but that your superior cares at so momentous a Crisis almost forbids—

While addressing on the Subject of Regulation and Domestic Oeconomy I presume it may not be improper or uninteresting to mention other items of a similar nature—

I have just read in place a Bill to Encourage the growing of Wool which will probably obtain, its principle is to exempt Sheep from arrest for debt of the owner.—

Your letter to the two Branches of the Pennsylvania Legislature intimating your desire of retiring from public life was received with affectionate regret, by those attached to your Administration.

Messrs. Moore and Briggs favored me with a call when last in Philada. I suggested to the former the building the Potowmac Bridge on the Rib and large Arch principle as explained to you, when we had the pleasure of Meeting at your House the session before last, and similar with that provided for by law on the Schuylkill at Grays or the lower ferry. Mr. Briggs informed me that he was going to the Eastward to learn the actual state of Manufactures generally, in consequence, I shewed him my seven yard wide Loom and Factory, for making the (English patent) Floor Cloths, toward which the wide loom is essential. I have found Capital for this business, which at present looks well—the Loom however, of which you may have heard surpasses any thing of the kind in the world, it is the application of the spring shuttle with superior machinary, and goes to prove the Mechanical proverb that “when a thing is best done it is with the fewest tools.”—Fifty five square yards of good Canvas has been wove by one man in day without unusual exertion

The Manufacture of Cotton Blankets might easily be got up, it is a good Article, cheap and would pay a fair profit, which would encrease with extension, it is cheaper, easier and better to make much than little, our Poor house make the Article but not with mechanical address—

But I fear Sir to trespass on your valuable time which be my motive ever so disinterested should not exceed a proper limit—The Object of the present is Weights and Measures my position is that there are naturally but three Units, Viz! Extension—Ponderosity and Capacity being all that are necessary to trade or Science, determine what there shall be as conformably to each other and with as little innovation on habits as may well be and the best result must follow—the Mode I approve is taken from the well known data that an English Cubic Foot of Capacity of pure Water at a given temperature contains 1000 Avoirdupois ounces, divide then this foot into tenths (instead of the usual—1/12ths. or inches) and this cubic foot of Capacity will give 1000 decimal cubic inches each of which will be exactly the common Avoirdupois Ounce 16 of which make our common ℔ and 10 of which make our common foot—

these harmonize well and innovate little, and if again the decimal mode should obtain in the division of the ℔, the Troy and et al regard, the troy grain would be the same. With perfect attachment and respect I am Sir your friend