Th: J. returns his thanks to mr Benton of Missouri for the copy of the petition of the University of Virga he has been so kind as to send him. he recieves it as an augury of approbtn of it’s object a presumption authorised by his enlightened efforts in the affairs of his own state, whose entrance into our fraternity of states has been welcomed more sincerely or warmly by no one than by

Th:J.