After so long an interval, I received with inexpressible pleasure Your two friendly Letters, of the 26th of Novr, and 8th of Decr—the former I acknowledged, but the latter by Mr Laurens (with a bundle) I was prevented as it came to hand at the time of my leaving the City 1—Your Letters have communicated to me the only information of my friends since my absence, which so fully evinces Your goodness to me (by restoring my anxious mind to a state of tranquility) that words are wanting to express the sensations of a grateful heart—Colo. Washington brought me from Char[l]eston the painful information of Your indisposition; I felt as I ought, the keenest sensations, that gratitude, & affection are capable of producing, I have long anxiously feard that incessant attention to business would produce pernitious consequences; from the nature of Your complaint I presume that to be the cause, if so I hope that a little relaxation may prove an effectual remedy—General Greene wrote me from Charleston whose information gives me hopes that You have recoverd 2—On my arrival I was much indisposed from the fatigues of a long and disagreeable passage, which I flatter’d myself I was rapidly recovering from, after I retired from the interuptions I met with in the City, with Colo. and Mrs Washington (to their Seat) who have done every thing in their power to contribute to my health & happiness which with the extreme pleasantness of the winter I hoped to have been perfectly restored, but my progress has been less fruitful than I flatterd myself, for eight, or ten days past I have experiencd a disagreeable increase of the pain in my breast attended with a giddiness and pain in my head—I have wrote to a very skillful Phisician in Charleston for His advise and hope that it will not be of a long duration as I expect He will direct the loss of blood which I hope will relieve my head—I shall continue here the ensueing Month, and should I find it advisable untill the latter end of April, and shall then take the first conveyance that offers for Virginia, where I must patiently wait, and with Christian fortitude acquiesce, to the decree of Providence, whose benevolence heretofore gives me hopes of happiness, here, & hereafter—I hope never to deviate from the paths of virtue which I have ever been desirous of inviolably preserving the happiness which must result from it will ever be a motive suffitiently powerful to urge me to a strict observance of it and hope never to be so unguarded as to be betrayed into a dishonorable action.

Your request to Colo. Washington He has kindly offer’d to comply with.3 I consider it as such a mark of Your friendship, circumstanced as I know You must be for money, that You may rest assured that I shall not abuse it, the price of Horses, and the expence, that may attend my going by land, has determin’d me to decline it, shall theirfore I hope have a suffitiency—as I shall return by water, should their be any thing in this part of the world that You may wish, and that it may be in my power to procure, You will make me happy by intrusting me with Your commands. the sincere affection I shall ever have for Mrs Washington and Yourself, will always interest me in Your happiness and shall ever rejoice in an opportunity of serving You—the prayers of a sincere heart is constantly offer’d for Your healths & happiness. I beg to be rememberd most affectionately to Mrs Washington, and the dear little Children, and respectfully to all enquiring friends—with the most unfeignd esteem & regard I am—Hond Uncle Your affectionate Nephew