On the rect. of your letter of the 29th Ulto I made up my mind to join the attending Visitors tomorrow; hoping that a cold which oppressed me would prove so transient as not to defeat my purpose. It has on the contrary taken the character of a decided influenza, with a fever that has confined me closely for several days, & is without any present symptom of abatement. I am under the necessity therefore of abandoning the trip, for which I am quite disabled, I hope Mr. Loyall will comply with the call on him, and make up a majority of the members. Of Mr. Monroe I hear nothing. I did not doubt that the expectation of him mentioned by Mr. Gilmer was the effect of some mistake. Mr. Breckenridge seems out of the question.

I enclose for the files of the Board several letters from or in favor of Candidates for the Chair of Mr. Long: on which list, may be placed Mr. Egan, who made a personal disclosure of his wishes. The case of Mr Harrison has already been the subject of a circular communication to the Visitors.

I regret very much that a failure to discharge my duty on the present occasion cd. not be avoided: and renew to you the expression of my great esteem & cordial regards.