I yesterday received your letter1 & can with truth assure you that I am not less desirous than you naturally are to expedite the conclusion of our negotiation, & that I feel the force of the reasons you mention for wishing to avoid unnecessary delay. You cannot on the other hand but be sensible of the multitude & urgency of other business at the present moment which makes it impossible to me to give to our negotiation as entire & undivided an attention as I should wish to be enabled to do— I have however been working on the hints of which you sent me the copy agreably to my desire, & have been endeavouring to frame from them & from such suggestions as occur to me a regular projet2 which I trust I shall soon be able to communicate to you, & which may tend as I hope to bring the whole business within a tolerably narrow compass— I have the honor to be with very sincere respect & esteem Sir Your Most faithful Humble Servant