I pray you to peruse & consider the inclosed letter of Governor Cabell and my answer, and to exercise over the latter the same discretion I have confided to Genl. Dearborne; returning it to me for any material correction, or forwarding it to the General if you think it will do, and by the same post, as it goes so circuitously.

I suspect your difficulty with the mail lock proceeded as it did at first with me, from not understanding the lock. I tried very long with both my keys and was about giving it up on the belief they had given me wrong keys, when I discovered by accident that it was a spring bolt, and therefore it was not necessary for the key to pass the bolt. I then found that both keys opened the locks readily. I salute you affectionately