Agreeable to your request I send the inclosed note for the information of the Executive in relation to the appointments in the Illinois Territory—Besides Mr Priestly I could have named other gentlemen in Kentucky who would accept of the appointment of judge & discharge the duties of the office with great propriety but I have forborn to do so from the consideration that it would perhaps be giving to that state too great a number of offices at this time—

Permit me to avail myself of this opportunity to express my grateful acknowledgements to you for the intima[. . .] of kindness & confidence you have b[. . .] [. . .]ed to manifest towards me—It will be to the end of my life a most pleasing recollection that I have obtained in any measure the good opinion of a man for whom I have been taught from my infancy the most profound veneration & whose illustrious services to his country will give to his name a distinguished immortality

Accept of my hearty wishes for your happiness & believe me to be what I always will be

your most devoted & obt St