I have duly recieved your favor of Apr. 23d & with it a certificate by which it appears that the papers of the Executive office of Virga during the first year of my administration as Governor are lost, and particularly a letter of mine to you2 of Nov. 6. 1779. I am really sorry it is not in my power, by memory, to say what were the contents of that letter, of which I do not retain the smallest trace in my mind, nor have I any copy. it was usual for me to write rough draughts of letters & other important papers my self, of which the clerk of the council3 made fair copies for transmission & kept the rough draught for the use of the office. but the letter you speak of having been dated at the board of trade, must have been written by them & only ‘approved & signed’ by me. be this as it may I have not the least recollection respecting it, and indeed after a lapse of 32. years, & the diversified agencies I have borne during that period, all the particulars of the transactions concerning you while I was governor, are obliterated from my mind, I only recollect generally that we had considerable transactions with you. with my regret that my memory cannot serve you on this occasion accept the assurance of my respect.

Th: Jefferson