Yours of the 3d. instant, with copies of your two letters to Judge White now returned, were not received till they had made a trip to Montpellier in Vermont; as happened at the same time to three letters from our co-visitors of the University. The letter to you from Mr. Ringold, referred to as inclosed, was omitted.

Your explanatory communications to Judge White are very important, and I hope the copies will not only get back safe, but be taken good care of afterwards. Like you, I have never read the histories of the Life & campaigns of General Jackson;1 not expecting unknown matter, still less apprehending erroneous matter in them; and finding full employment for my time in more obligatory applications of it.

The account given of the letter of July 18. 1814. is not a little mysterious. If there be no decisive evidence to the contrary, I must infer that it could not, if of the character indicated, have been known to me at the time. I have no recollection of it; and the inference is strengthened by the reasons given, against the seizure of Pensacola, by Executive Authority, in my answer of October 8 to a proposal of General Armstrong of Sepr. 26. 1813, to take that step, in consequence of the destruction of Blockhouses on our side of the perdido.2 Your Prohibitory letter of Octr. 21. 1814. to General Jackson, is still more in point.3

You will see that I have been dragged into the Newspapers by an alternative which seemed to make it as unavoidable as it was disagreeable.4 I trust it will be the last, as it was the first sacrifice of that sort.

I have not yet closed my Correspondence with our Colleagues on the case of Mr Long. Some of them are disposed to annex conditions to the release from his engagement. Doctr. Jones will probably be at once called to the vacant Chair of Nat: Philos: by the concurring voice of the Visitors. There was a hope that Professor Patterson of Philadelphia would have accepted it. He declines, and recommends Docr. Jones. Health & happiness to you all.