It has happened to me more than once, to feel great pain & regret while I was writing to you, on account of the trouble I occasioned you, & the liberty I was taking, in soliciting promotion &ca., for the persons in question. I assure you those sensations occur with unusual force on the present occasion, which is this—Dr. Bache has nearly concluded his tour [of] attendance on the Missisippi Boat[-men], for this year, & I should suppose with great success, as he has lost but [7] out of 400 Patients he has however been sick twice, & is so much discouraged, by the smallness of the Compensation, & the severity of the duty, that he has requested my Sister to solicit for him the place of Land-Officer, which he supposes to be vacant.

Your Knowledge of the Gentleman, & of the business, makes you really a better Judge than any other person, & I therefore will only add my sincere request & wish that you would forgive the [libe]rty taken by Your affectionate friend