The enclosed poetical production was placed in my hands a few days ago by an English Lady, Mrs Mary DeButts accompanied with an earnest request that I would cause it to be forwarded to you. The abovementioned Lady is the Wife of Doctor Richard DeButts whose residence is in the State of Maryland immediately opposite the Town of Alexandria. The enclosed Extract is a verbatim et literatim Copy of an original Letter from the Author of the Poem (Mr Northmore) to Mrs DeButts. The circumstance alluded to, which will probably prevent Mr Northmore from ever carrying into effect the design he had once contemplated of visiting the United States, is, that he has lately entered into the Holy Estate of Matrimony with a Miss Welby, the neice of Mrs Mary DeButts. In conformity to the anxious wish and sollicitation, that a sure conveyance should be afforded of forwarding said work to you, I have delivered it to Mr Secretary Munroe: who has promised [to] carry Mrs DeButt’s wishes (quo ad hoc) into [e]xecution. The Author is an intimate acquaintance of said Lady; is an independant country Gentleman, of eight thousand pounds per Year; a real Whigg, Mrs DeButts at the time of placing the Volume in my hands with the accompanying Extract intimated to me, that an acknowledgment by you of the having received said Poem, would be infinitely gratifying to the Author, as well as proof positive, that She had faithfully executed the commission with which her Friend had honoured her.

Wishing you every earthly felicity