I thank you for your affectionate remembrance of my birthday—We passed it as pleasantly as circumstances would admit at Mr Frye’s; but I was not very well that day and was more than usually overpowered by the heat—On returning home too we were caught in a thunder–shower and throughly drenched.

The Metropolis is daily thinning off—The Secretary of the Navy and family are gone—The President goes for Albemarle to–morrow—Mr Ca<s>nning upon his Northern tour the next day—Mr Calhoun shortly.

16. July.

Johnson Hellen has left us this morning with a tear in his eye. God bless him! I told him he must let us often hear from him, and often come and see us—And that he would always find his chamber ready to receive him. <I cannot come to Philadelphia—I am like [. . .] fastened to my Rock> I have told you before, that I cannot come to Philadelphia “damnable duration” I am struggling between life and death—or for more; that is for the character of an honest Man.

This days Intelligencer contains the decision of the Emperor of Russia, upon our grammatical question.

Ever faithfully yours