I thank you for your acceptable favor of the 14th. inst.1 which was recd. in due course of mail. I regret that your health is declining & hope that you may yet be better, & be continued many years to your family & country.

I shall make a vigorous effort to pay you a visit with Mrs Morse, in the course of the next six or eight months—but we have learned not to be sanguine in our calculations for the Future. We have many & strong inducements to make you this visit, on other accounts, than that of obtaining historical information.—

Your sentiments respecting history, “festina lente,”2 accord with my own. I hope I am in some measure sensible of the importance & high responsibility of this undertaking. Dr. Trumbull’s plan was to bring down the Hist. of the U. States, to 1792— (embracing 3 complete centuries)— The 1st. Vol. ends with the Indian Wars of 1764. The 2d. unwritten, (except 1 chap. on the Stamp Act), is to bring down end with the capture of Burgoyne— the 3d. ends at 1792. I think, shd. my life & health be spared, to continue the history down to this time, in a sufficient no. of vols.— If, sir, in a liesure hour, you wd. do me the favor to make minutes on a sheet of paper, of the books which you may think it proper for me to consult in writing such a history—^also^ such State ^& private^ papers, as may occur to your mind— such particularly as are in your own possession ^You will make confer on me a particular favor^— Such Memoranda may be made without much labor, & to me would be of great importance.3

I send, sir, with this a sermon I have lately published.4 The subject is a familiar one to your mind,—but interesting to us all— It wd. gratify me much to know your views, though it shd. be in few words, of what is to be the future State of the ch[urc]h— & world, according to your interpretation of prophecy. But I am asking too great favors of you, in your state of health—

Mrs M. is well—as are Mr & Mrs Evarts— (she has a daughter three days old—) & all unite in best respects to you, with— Dear sir, your obliged & obedt friend & servt