Your letter of the 5th. instant has been duly recieved with the essay accompanying it which is now returned. my public occupations, and especially on the approach of a session of Congress, so imperiously demand all my time, that it has not been in my power to give to your essay so deliberate a perusal as might justify minute observations on it. but from the hasty perusal these have permitted me to give, I may say that I find in it many sound political observations, and many excellently moral & that I think it’s publication will do good. but whether in a pamphlet, or divided into newspaper essays, I am not competent to decide. I suppose a much greater number of persons would read it in the latter than in the former way.

I wish your paper to be directed chiefly to Agriculture, manufactures and mechanic arts may succeed. yet I have never seen an instance of any paper succeeding in this country, but those merely political. however you have better means than I can possibly have of judging of it’s prospect, and with my wishes that it may have all the success you desire, I tender you my salutations & respects