My Friendship for Doct. Bancroft has enduced me to turn my attention consider with great attention the Plan most adviseable to adopt relative to the placing of ^preparing^ his Son in a Lawyers office, ^for the Profession of the Law^ and for especially the place where.1

The Doctr., for whose Judgmt. I have great Respect, appearing to prefer some Place at a Distance from our Capital, was is a Circumstance which has embarrassed me—for ^in-an^ in my opinion the Capital affords ^in many Respects^ most advantages to To Not choosing to give ^risk^ a hastily Opinion ^in a matter of so much Importance^ I have hitherto permitted your last Letter to on this interesting Subject to remain thus long unanswered ^for^— ^[In margin] it was not until the return of the Judges from their Cir cuits & their assembling ^^of the houses^^ at the Term wh. commenced here on the 19 Inst. that I cd. decide with proper ^^sufficient^^ certainty that a Gent[leman]. wh. had studied out of and been admitted to practice in another State, cd. be admitted to into the courts of ^^practice in^^ this State. I am now assured that a proper Door is left open for them^ After well considering all the and viewing them it in all the Lights in which I could place it ^After ^^having^^ well considered the Subject^ I finally concur in the Doctrs. Opinion, and & in your Idea respecting his Sons ^Mr. Bancrofts^ being placed with Mr. Reeves,2 where ^with whom^ I think he would do well to ^shd.^ remain untill he ^shall^ become qualified to practice the Law and shall obtain a License to practice ^it^ in ^be admitted to the Bar in^ that State— He may afterwards t remove here or elsewhere according to Circumstance; for a ^prudent^ Man of ^distinguished^ Talents & professional skill and Prudence will find no Difficulty in establishing himself advantageously in whatever part ^any part^ of our Country he may prefer to. I am Dr Sr your most obt. & hble Servt