I beg leave to refer to the enclosure as an apology for this intrusion, although one might perhaps have been admitted by your kindness in the hereditary claim I have to your acquaintance & my remembrance of a friendly intercourse between you and my deceased father, in my early days.

Besides offering a just tribute of respect and veneration in inscribing my work to you, I venture upon the liberty of drawing your immediate attention to its design both as an individual and as the head of the University of Virginia and as soon as the work issues from the press, I shall take the further liberty of transmitting to you a Copy—In the mean time I have the honour to be Sir, With the greatest respect Your sincere & faithful humble Servant,