I had determined to compleat several Affairs before I wrote to you, but I have been so much delayed, that I should be guilty of inattention if I postponed it any longer— I have ^made^ many but fruitless Inquiries after Dr. Tate.1 From Mr. Ray’s Information I have been long in hopes of finding him in this city, instead of which I have not been able to receive any Accounts of him— He must however be somewhere & I am fully determined to discover him— Majr. Lyons writes me that the Mason he proposed to employ in Building the House, will not engage for less then £120— Bourdet is gone to Jersey & I cannot find any other Mason who will undertake the Business for a less Sum—2 I really think it will be best to authorize the Majr. to give it, as it will take away all pretences of Delay on that Score— This Sum I understand it to include labor every kind & boarding— At the time Bourdet offered to build the house for £100, you had not determined on having a partition wall of Brick— The Boards from Coscob are brought up & some of those from Sinsing, but I do not Know how many—3 When I first returned I applied to Mr. Bleecker4 to purchase Bank shares. He told me that the Establishment of the Manhattan Bank had so reduced their Value that he thought it would be unwise to purchase them, that calculating from the prices at which they sold & the Dividends which would probably be made, they would not yield 7 pr Cent Interest on the purchase Money. He supposed the most profitable Stock would be either Manhattan shares or 8 pr Ct. Stock— I therefore authorized him to purchase $1000 of the latter. He said he had reason to believe that a new Loan would be offered opened by Governmt. for the Exigencies of the present Year at 7 pr Cent, in which Case the 8 pr Cents would of course rise—5 He informed me yesterday that he ^had^ not had it in his power to purchase— A Small Alteration has been made in my Agreement with Mr. Munro— as it [is] impossible for me to copy all the Bills &c which I am to draw, he has agreed to pay half the Expence of having them engrossed—Since that Agreement I have been extremely occupied, Mr. Munro’s Chancery Business not having been very strictly attended to of late has greatly accumulated. besides that which was already on hand I have drafted Six new Bills within a fortnight.

The Democrats intend to exert themselves strenuously at the next election— Govr. Clinton, Genl. Gates, Commodore Nicholson, Wm. Edgar & B. Livingston are it is said to be Candidates for the Assembly; it is whispered that there is great Opposition made to placing Col. Burr on their ticket, some asserting that he poisoned their List last year. The Federalists are to have a meeting on Wednesday next.6

The Appointment of Mr Coleman has I find given great Offence to some of our Lawyers, most of whom were either Candidates themselves or friends of those who were such—7

I was distressed to learn from your last letters that Mama had not gained much Strength. I shall send the Balsam by the first Opportunity I can find—It is not improbable but that it is sold in Albany by Dr. Mancius who has most of the Patent Medecines which are in repute—8

Maria I suppose has informed you that Mr. Munro has a Son—9 He is much rejoiced at the event— Mrs. Munro is very well— I heard the other Day from Uncle Augustus who is much better than when I saw him— I sent him several Articles that he wanted—10 I am, my dear papa, Your Affect: Son,