I have been so unavoidably detained by the different persons with whom arrangements [were] necessary previously to my departure, that I fear I shall be unable to wait upon you before [one] oclock.—

I therefore take the liberty to request you to give the necessary directions to my being furnished, agreeably to Mr Rodneys desire with the papers I have heretofore given to the executive,— as the draft of the [. . .]ts], the letter of Col. Burr inviting me to join him on the [Washita], &c.— I shall certainly go on this evening, & may want them.—

I have arranged with Mr Lenthall & King the proceedings in your Grounds. The drains will be made as soon as we can get bricks, & the trenches are in the mean time to be cut. The Earth in front of the West Offices will be then to be removed, & the old road Southward levelled up with it. Mr King fully understands my idea of this operation.— But as B[. . .], Harvie & Owens will be out of work in a day or two, & the business of the Canal must now necessarily wait my return,—I beg to submit to you, whether the Road as begun on the South ought not to be continued. I do not see how it will be possible to get at the War office next winter unless this is done, excepting by giving up all idea of dressing the ground south of the present fence, which would be a great pity, & have the bad effect of exhibiting to Congress the very heaviest part of the work in an unfinished State, & frightening them from further appropriation.

This I submit however with all deference & [. . .] the question,—whether the hill West of the West offices, should not remain untouched rather than the road, as it makes no great show, as an unattempted block of earth, & may be removed gradually to the N.W. as the Offices require extension.

I am with the highest respect Yrs