I have to acknolege the reciept of your favors of Jan. 4. & 31. the last of which did not reach me till two days ago; and with my own, to express the thankfulness of all the friends of the late unfortunate governor Lewis for your kind attentions to him. we have all to lament that a fame so dearly earned was clouded finally by such an act of desperation. he was much afflicted & habitually so with hypocondria. this was probably increased by the habit into which he had fallen & the painful reflections that would necessarily produce in a mind like his. his loss to the world is a very great one, as it is impossible that any other can paint to them the occurrencies of his journey so faithfully as he who felt them. I have duly handed on whatever you have communicated to me respecting his pecuniary interests to Capt William Meriwether, his relation, his intimate friend & one of his executors, and pray you to accept the assurances of my esteem & respect.

Th: Jefferson