I had the honor of addressing you a few days since, under cover to mr. christie of Baltimore, by the Brig Neptune Captn. Edwards for N. York:—The present serves principally to convey to you a letter from mr. Mazzei, and as I presume he has said little, or perhaps nothing of his own state of health, I am the more induc’d to mention the Concern I feel for him.—About a fort’night ago he was seiz’d with violent pains in the bowels, follow’d by excessive vomiting, and left him with extraordinary pains in the legs—these in their turn Subsided, when there Appear’d on the lower part of the belly, the shoulder & Neck, Considerable Swellings, accompanied with much inflamation, and under which he now severely Suffers.—Altho’ these are alarming Symptoms at his age, yet there is another, which in my mind has a still more threatning aspect, to wit, an almost Continual propensity to Sleep. The estate into which he has lately fallen, has, in my opinion hasten’d a period, which a Continuation of his peaceful habits, might have for Some time yet suspended.—The labour of Settling a rich inheritance, the difficulty of placing anew, large Sums, and in hands that would not rob his widow & his child at a future day—add to these the torment of Attending to a crowd of Carpenters and Masons, who are altering the house he has bought, and in which he has Comfortably liv’d for nearly 20 years. these perplexities, to a mind Somewhat irritable by nature, have totally derang’d all that harmony & œconomy of life, for which he was So Conspicuous.—

Accept the AsSurances, Sir, of my unfeign’d wishes for your health & of the respect with which I am Yr. Most Obt. Servt