I recd. by the last mail from New York, the Letter which your Lordship did me the Honor to write on the 17 June last.1 It appears from the Post Mark that it had arrived by the Ship Telegraph, Capt. Coffin;2 and that it was put into the office on the 26th. ult.— Accept my Gratulations on your Lordship’s Return to the Bosom of your Family, and finding them in the ^in good Health, and^ finding them in the Enjoyment of that Blessing.

The Circumstances which relate to your Land in this Country are to be regretted. The Idea of another agent does not surprize me. The present one should not, in my opinion, have suffered permitted a part of the Tract to be sold for Taxes. I fear the Remark of Mr. Van Schaack in his Letter to your Lordship is well founded vizt [“]that the Business had been strangely mismanaged.”— To what particulars of mismanagement he alludes, does not appear. To obtain a clear and comprehensive View of all the Proceedings of the Agent strikes me as desireable. That no Letters from him should have come to hand since the month of March 1815, is so singular, that I suspect they have miscarried. Having never heard his Honesty questioned, I am inclined to impute his omissions, not to neglect of what he believed to be just, but to a Hesitation about incurring any Degree of Risque or Trouble beyond what in his opinion mere Justice required.

Be this as it may—I am persuaded that nothing blameable on his part, recd. Encouragemt. or Countenance from Mr. Van Schaack. I have known that Gentleman ever since we were at College Together, and my Esteem and Regard for him have continued steadfast, altho we took different Sides in the Revolution—

I apprehend there will be Difficulty in selecting a Person, having the requisite Qualifications for the agency—there doubtless are such men—but who they are, I do not know. My long Indisposition has kept me at a distance from those places and occasions, which afford opportunities of seeing and hearing of men of that Description— For ten years past I have not seen the City of New York, notwithstanding the many and strong Inducements I have frequently to visit those of my Family, and some good old Friends who reside there.

Mr. King being more advantageously circumstanced in these Respects, the application made to him will not I hope be fruitless— On his Recommendation, if explicit, I should place great Reliance—

Be so obliging my Lord, as to present my respectful Compts. to your Lady, and to assure the Dowager Lady Amherst that the agreable Hours for which I am indebted to the hospitable and friendly attentions of herself and the late Lord Amherst, are fresh in my Recollection, and have not ceased to excite correspondent Feelings—

It would give me pleasure my Lord, to hear that your amiable Sister enjoys Health and Prosperity—She and all the Family have my best wishes—I have the Honor to be my Lord, with constant Respect & Regard, Your Lordships Faithful & Obt Servt