I have long since intended writing to you to let you know that altho we are situated at a distance I have not forgotten our early friendship and the esteem in which I continue to hold you in my sincere and affectionate rememberance—I have not been wanting in my frequent enquiries in reguard to your & your families health—I am gratified to hear by the late information I have recd., that it is better, than some time past, & that it is as good as could be expected for your advanced age—

That you may be fortunate enough to pass through the remainder of your time in this world, with as little pain and affliction as can be attendant on human nature, you have my most sincere wish.

I have preserved all your letters you in early times was so good as to address to me, and I often look over them with pleasure, both of a private as well as those of a political charactor; the latter in those times of excitement affords me great satisfaction to gether with printed productions known to have droped from your pen

Could the citizens of the U. S. quietly settle down under the principles of your production of 98.’9, what a happy people we might be. It is true we enjoy great prosperity, notwithstanding the present confliction of party spirit pervading every State in the Union—I much fear that the ambitious and avaricious, have set their faces against those principles, for which you have spent a life devoted to the liberty, happiness & well fare of our common Country, using all your energy as a Citizen meeting the calls of your Country, without solicitations for office, on your part, sinking a part of your private funds in its service, instead of increasing them from those of the public. These are facts well known to me, and better as to yourself & will not be deemed by you as a matter merely of flattery on my part—

May you my Dear Sir, yet live to see your Country settle down in peace and quiet, on the true, just, strict & plain limited construction of our most valuable & sacred constitution. I know its the only boon you ask for a life devoted entirely for their happiness & well fare.

Your goodness I am sure will excuse those malutated effusions of my mind and the errors they may contain (if any)—for I assure you my intentions are pure, and they flow from a heart that holds in dear & sincere rememberance the times gone by, when I had the pleasure of being personally in your Company.

If my recollection does not deceive me you entered your 84th. year last march. On the 2d. of the ensuing August I shall enter my 76th. year of age. I am sorry to hear of the death of our relation Mr Robert Taylor of your County. I believe I am the oldest now living of those bearing the name of Taylor, of the Virginia family of that name. I have now yet living Six Children 37 Grand Children, and 5 G. G. Children so that my family not likely to be shortly extinct—

Mrs. Taylor and myself enjoys a considerable share of good health, she joins me in our most cordial love & good wishes for both of your health, and happiness—with great esteem I am most affectionately yrs