In my letter of Oct. 25. from Poplar Forest I stated that my note to Hawkins should be paid as soon as the state of our river would permit me to get down some flour, which I thought would probably be in the course of the then ensuing month of November. it was not till near the last of that month that I got home from a call I had to the Natural bridge, and within a few days after, our river was blocked up with ice, and so has continued to this day, with an interval of 2. or 3. days only, during which I sent off a load which was caught by ice before it got out of river and there still remains ice-bound. I had still two other resources in two sums payable to me on the 1st of Jan. the one for rent, the other on a merchant’s bond. I have been in the almost daily application & expectation of recieving one or other1 of these which occasioned my delay in writing to you. but neither is yet recieved. I accept therefore the indulgence offered to me by your agent, of giving a draught on my correspondent in Richmond at 60. days date, which I now inclose to you, and will certainly be honored. this is an accomodation the more acceptable as it relieves me from the pain [o]f pressing others and the torture of repeated disappointment.2 Accept the assurance of my great respect.