Your friendly letter of Mar. 1. was brought here by mr Jones. he was confined many days by sickness. he called on me after he got out, but it being in the last days of Congress when every moment of my time is occupied I had not an opportunity of seeing him a second time. I have seen nobody whose appearance indicates so desperate a state of health. my daughter & her family are here with me and well. they will set out for Albemarle in 2 or 3 days, whither I shall follow them to pass as many weeks in order to repose a little after the labors of the winter. Congress have had a squally session. some strange phaenomena disturbed that harmony which has been hitherto unbroken among the Republicans. however it furnished a comfortable proof of the steadiness & independence of the main body, which could not be led from it’s principles, and it has compleated my conviction that ours is the most stable government in the world. we are trying to lay the foundations of a long peace with Spain, in which your city is more interested than any other place. from Albemarle I can give you no news, having nobody there now who writes to me. mr & mrs Gilmer go this spring to their lands in the Southern part of the state, in which the title of the family is confirmed. we expect Colo. Monroe will return to us next autumn. and I am looking to my final return there with more desire than to any other object in this world. it is yet three years distant. this summer will entirely finish the house at Monticello & I am preparing an occasional retreat in Bedford, where I expect to settle some of my grandchildren. I am happy to hear that your health & spirits have returned, and that the family is comfortably situated. your friends here, & none more than myself take a great interest in whatever concerns you. accept my affectionate salutations & assurances of constant attachment and respect.