Your favor of Dec. 7. came to hand but a few days ago, and with it the letter of Dr Ramsay. I learned with regret your detention on the road by sickness, and hope, if this finds you at the same place, it will be in a better state of health. presuming that the warm and hot springs of1 Bath county are the objects of your journey, I cannot but wish to hear of your arrival there; as (living myself on one of the highroads to them) I have witnessed the most flattering instances of permanent cure of rheumatism and great relief to gout. there is a general idea that their waters are the most efficacious in the months of July, August & September. but these months have got into vogue by their being the sickly months of the tide waters and therefore the most apropos for leaving the lower country. I doubt myself whether either the temperature or impregnation of the waters are sensibly affected by the season. more precautions against taking cold will of course be necessary in colder weather: but precautions, more or less, are necessary in all seasons. your letter giving me the hope that you may have occasion to pass this way, I pray you to be assured that I shall be happy to recieve you here, and to be favored with such an occasion of proving my respect for our friend Dr Ramsay, as well as of doing justice to your own personal merit. I shall be absent from home about 3. or 4. weeks from the latter part of April, which I mention in the hope that this call upon my time may not be so unlucky as to deprive me of the gratification of your visit. Accept the assurance of my great respect & consideration.

Th: Jefferson