Your favor of Saturday the 21st came to me yesterday (Tuesday) evening. and by this day’s mail to Washington I have written to the President and P.M. General, copies of which letters I inclose to you. that to the President is short, because preceding ones on the same subject have been long. you will see that I place the request on ground which must prevail, if I am any thing at Washington. my letters for 2 years back preclude the case of previous engagement. altho’ from what has past, there may have been certain expectations entertained by Preston, yet I have supposed that, if absolute, I should have been told so on former occasions. still, altho’ my hopes are strong, you must not let yours get beyond your philosophy, in the very possible case of a failure. with sincere wishes for your success