I recieved your letter of yesterday & am thankful for this mark of attention & the opportunity offered of obtaining a supply of coal. the fact is that I have a standing correspondent at Richmond who annually purchases my stock of coal there at such time as he finds most advantageous, and in autumn he freights a vessel & sends it on to this place. he is a good judge of quality & is generally allowed to pick the large, so that being regularly & well served, consistency calls for a continuance in the same line of supply.

I am sorry to learn that you are confined with the gout. I cannot help believing that a visit to the Augusta springs would greatly relieve you. Accept my salutations & assurances of great respect & esteem.