I am persuaded I shall be pleased with mr Hawkins’s portable Polygraph, because of it’s small size, & it’s simplification by omitting one of the horizontal parallelograms, the stays or suspenders, & probably the vertical parallelograms & gallows, for I see no use for the two last if the suspender be omitted. the pencases I shall be able to have arranged to my mind by an excellent workman here. I should have better liked it as an exchange for the portable one I have, two being unnecessary, & having already indulged myself considerably in this favorite machine; and still indeed having to call for one for a friend who has sent me a present, which as I cannot reject, I must make a counterpresent. however your affairs & mr Hawkins being in no wise blended, be so good as to inform me of the price I must remit him for this, and send the machine to me by the stage. inform me also if you please, of the addition which would be made to the price of the one which I have to call for my friend, by having the pen-arms & pen-cases of silver.

Filing away your letter of the 12th. inst. presented to my view that of Apr. 5. which I had recieved a little before my departure for Monticello, had inadvertently omitted to take with me for answer, & therefore has laid unobserved till this accident brings it under my eye. I therefore now return you the drawing it had covered for my inspection, & which seems to be admirably done: and I add, in answer to another part of the same letter, that I shall cheerfully contribute my mite to your Academy of fine arts by inclosing you 50. D. at my next pay-day (early in July) as I devote one day in every month to the expediting & adjusting all my pecuniary concerns. Accept my friendly salutations & best wishes