I have recd. your letter of July 21. and offer my acknowledgements for its friendly enquiries concerning my health; a blessing which I enjoy in as great a degree, as could be reasonably expected, at the stage of life to which I am now advanced.

It gives me much pain to find you confirming, the spirit of disunion sa[i]d to prevail in your State; I can not but hope that it will be as transient, as it was unlooked for; and that a foresight of the obvious & awful consequences which a separation of the States portends, will reduce the tone of feeling within the limits of the occasion. With a return of my best wishes I beg you, Sir, to be assured of my great & cordial respect