I received by the mail yesterday yours of the 29th. ult: covering your Bond for $2000 in favor of my Brother Edward Coles, and also a check on the Bank of Virginia for $16. which you say pays a balance due him in consequence of his having underrated his Stock in his settlement with you. The Bond has been placed with some others left with me for safe keeping, & the amt. of your check shall be passed to his credit, though I am fully impressed with the belief, from what he said to me, that this benefit resulting from the sale of the stock was to be yours, not his. I have written to him on the subject by the mail of to day, & if there is a mistake on your part, the money can be returned. The whole amt. of stock was his, it having been passed over to him by my sister Betsey in part payment for Enniscorthy; the Bond therefore is in the form he wished.

He left us on the 25th. ult for Illinois with a promise to return with me this fall when I propose to visit my Missouri farm. I ask to be presented very kindly to Mrs. Madison and am Dr. Sir with constant & devoted attachment ever truly yrs.