It is nearly, if not quite a month, since I enclosed you a letter from the Revd Mr Van Vleck, agreeing to take Colo. Ball’s daughter, along with Maria.1

In that letter, he mentioned his terms; his wishes to know their exact ages; and informed you what necessaries they ought to come provided with. To these I added, that knowing many unsuccessful attempts had been made to get girls admitted to that School, the reception of Maria & her Cousin ought to be considered as a favor; and hoped that Colo. Ball would be pointed in complying with the terms, & requisitions. I requested too, that you would write Mr Van Vleck (I think I added under cover to me) the precise time the girls were to enter. Since then I have heard nothing from you, on this subject.

That letter was accompanied with Fulton’s treatise (quarto) on the improvement of Canal Navigation, which I meant to deposit in your hands until my return to Mount Vernon. No acknowledgment of this neither, leads me to apprehend a miscarriage of them, and is the cause of these details.2

Another subject indeed, has stimulated the present address. I have been asked, with a degree of solicitude from the War Office, to what cause is to be ascribed the non-execution, or not coming forward of the Deeds for the land, on which the Arsenal on Shenondoah is to be erected, as these were promised in a letter from you, dated early in August; since which, nothing has been communicated, and is embarrassing to that Department; as the necessary items, & information, cannot accompany the accounts of it, in the manner that is expected. On many accounts, I hope this matter will come forward without delay, & particularly for the reasons I have mentioned.3 With sincere esteem & regard I am Your Affectionate