In answer to the enquiries of your letter of the 18th as to the communications between Georgetown ferry & this quarter, I must observe there are three general routes practised, the lower one by Fredericksburg, the upper one by Fauquier C.H. and a middle one by Stephensbg. this last is many miles shortest, much the levellest, and being the particular one enquired after in your letter, I shall confine myself to it. according to Triplett’s survey

from Georgetown ferry by the way of Centerville to Gaines’s1 tavern are		31¾		miles;
but by Lane’s, Ravensworth, Yates’s ford & Songster’s are but		194⁄10		miles
as measured by myself by an accurate machine to my carriage; making a difference		12⅓		miles.

from Gaines’s2 tavern to Stephensburg, by Triplett’s survey		38⅓	miles
from Stephensburg to Orange C.H. as measured by myself		2144⁄100
from Orange C.H. to Charlottesville, nearly all measured by myself		30.
		89¾

the mail stage road from Washington thro’ the great trading towns is necessary for commerce, but another thro’ the middle of the state below & parallel with the mountains is wanting for the body of the country, and the route I have noted is precisely that wanted, which continued on to N. Orleans would place that within 1000. miles of Washington, thro’ a level country, and always clear of the mountains. but these are objects for the rising generation, and not for that going off the stage. Accept the assurances of my great respect.