I return you inclosed the papers solliciting a contribution for a meeting house. the number of applications to me from the different parts of the Union for contributing to the building of churches & Meeting houses is so great that no resources I can command could answer to them. I have therefore been obliged to prescribe to myself as a rule to contribute to those only in the district where I live, & the state in which my property lies. the rule, I think, is a reasonable one and it should be observed with all or none. I must therefore ask to be excused from departing from it in the case under your patronage. Accept my salutations & assurances of respect.