I have recieved, signed & forwarded Poydrass’s commission, & have forwarded the letter to Prevost. I inclose for your perusal a letter from Armstrong. the part therein stated changes considerably the idea we had formed of Bowdoin’s caution & prudence. that mentioned in Bowdoin’s letter is comfortable tho’ it be little more than a repetition of what Armstrong had communicated. some additional details give additional hopes.

The drought here is distressing. the crop of oats irrevocably lost; the May wheat little better. common wheat tho’ backward is healthy, and may yet do well. peaches & cherries are almost wholly destroyed and the few remaining are too much injured to come to perfection. as this was the effect of a cold wind, the mountain situations have suffered equally with the plains. apples have escaped. I presume you will have heard of the death of Frank Walker, & that he died drunk in his carriage unknown to the driver. it was discovered only when the carriage stopped at the next house. Accept affectionate salutations.