I recd. by the last mail a letter from J. H. Causten, accompanied by a huge volume of Documents, and a stout pamphlet of arguments, with a printed letter to him from Mr. Pickering, on the mercantile claims agst. France, and the release of her from them by the U.S. All these articles have been doubtless sent to you also, as I am requested by Mr. C. to forward the inclosed Certificate of Agency, on which he founded his communication to me. The list of names to the paper is very respectable, and their solicitude on the occasion very natural. But on what ground can we interpose opinions, meant for public use, in a case where we can state neither facts nor reasons, which ought not to be presumed, and which are not well understood to be, fully before the authority which is to decide on its merits?

We hope you reached your warm fireside before the change of weather took place; and that we may congratulate you on having escaped its rigors on the road? I am sorry to learn that these have been such as to prevent the printing of our Code of enactments, and of course to delay the Report for Richmond. I am still more so to say, that the Faculty found on an investigation shortly after we left the University, that the Hotel keepers generally had been in the practice of drinking & card playing with the Students in their Rooms. Minor alone was uncharged, Conway but slightly involved, Spotswood deeply in both transgressions. The whole case was sent me by the Faculty, & I have forwarded it to my Executive partner Genl. Cocke from whom I expect soon to hear. What can be done in the actual posture of things? These abuses like most others have had their root in the dependence of the Hotel Keepers on the good will of the Students. Health & all other blessings

How has the affair with the Bank terminated? Favorably I hope.