Dr Jones has lost his situation in the Patent office, and now holds a clerkship in this Dept. I accidentally learnt yesterday that he had told one of his acquaintance that this was only temporarily, for "he had once been offered professorships in the University of Virginia & some other institution, and would again turn his attention that way." On hearing this, I determined to lose no time in suggesting to the Board, through you, the propriety, if possible, of making a personal acquaintance precede his appointment. I was convinced that he was perhaps the very best qualified man in the U. S. for the situation lately held by him; and therefore took every opportunity that offered, to express this opinion & the grounds on which it rested, to the Secretary of State. I even avoided being introduced to him, that I might say my opinion was a purely abstract one. But, entertaining this opinion of him, for the superintendency of the Patent office; I own it would not be without considerable uneasiness, that I should hear of his appointment to a professorship in our Institution. I have seen him pretty frequently—and had some other opportunities of obtaining an insight into his character. I doubt whether I do him any injustice in considering him a great gossip, and a weak sort of a man. Mr Vail of this Dept. (from whom I got the above information) told me that Dr J. does not write good [ ]—meaning orthographically.

It was altogether superfluous to give yourself the trouble of writing on the subject of the oranges—I only regret they did not reach you while they were sound & your situation such as to make their acid most agree[able.] Mrs Cutts & family, whom I saw last evening, are well. I have proposed to her to let me be her escort as far as Montpellier; but she does not expect to be able to get off before July—whereas I hope to go about the 25th inst.

Present me to Mrs Madison, & accept my wishes for your future exemption from all such visitants as that you are now getting rid of. Haste must again apologise for this scrawl.