To James Monroe

The gardener who is the subject of your letter is perfectly free to any engagement. being about to quit his present position, he was anxious to fix himself somewhere near enough to supply Charlottesville & the University with vegetables, fixed his eye on that spot of meadow between you & me, and applied for it to me. I had neither wish nor interest that he should settle there, & merely agreed to it because he desired it. I did not say it should be rent free, but did not mean to take rent from him. I wished indeed to find a place for him nearer to Charlottesville, and shall be pleased if he finds yours eligible on other accounts, so that I shall be as much gratified as himself if he can get a better situation.—I have for sometime been suspicious of Alexander & feared much his holy alliance.

I was just mounting my horse this morning to visit you when first came in A. then B. then C. & D. Etc which kept me at home. affectionately yours