I have recd. your favor of the 14. Feby. inst 1834 and congratulate you very sincerely on the good health with which you enter on yr 87th. year, notwithstanding the severity of the winter, and the maladies around you I hope it is a prognostic of years yet to come and with the health making them blessings Tho’ numbering 4 years less than yours, my present condition is far less flattering. My Rheumatism, tho but partially & occasionally painful, and admitting a considerable space of healthy feeling, is very obstinate, and in crippling my lower limbs, and especially my hands & fingers. As far as the rigorous season has co-operated agst me the coming one may administer an alleviation at least.

I thank you Sir for the late London papers, which will be returned in a few days that some of your other friends may have a like oppy of looking over them—I have not recd. them from your son Wm. who has probably become aware of the promptness & fulness of the republications in our newspapers. But we have had a proof of his kind attention in a basket of fine strawberry roots for which I thanked him in a letter under cover to you, accompanied by one from Mrs. M. to Miss Maury asking her to have it forwarded with your joint dispatches. I trust therefore that our acknowledgements, will have got safe to him.

Renewing to you all our good w[ishes] which we extend to Miss Maury, I pray you both to be assured of our continued & affecte regards

Our Son has found the paper containing Mr [ ]tons speech, which is inclosed. He joins in our offerings to yourself & Miss M.