Yours of the 8 th. is just come to hand.1 I send you the letter of Mr. Coolidge to me referred to in his to you, and with it a paper giving a sample of Mr. Grund’s professional Exhibitions.2 I send also the answer of Mr. Farrar recd. since you saw that of Mr. Bowditch. Tho’ favorable to Mr. G. it is cautious. These papers may remain with you till the meeting of the Visitors. It may not be amiss to consult Mr. F. & Mr. B. concerning Mr. Walker; but if Mr C. could have a free conversation with them, on the several requisite points of character in Mr. W. I shd. rely more on his reports than on their written answers to our enquiries. It becomes more & more evident that we shall find much difficulty in providing a successor to Mr. Key, & that we must run some risk in the final selection.

I have not made a thorough examination of the chasms in my letters to Mr Jefferson returned by him; among those acknowledged in his to me & not in the bundle returned by him, I find in

1799—4

1800—6

1802—6

1803—6

4—11

5—8

6—4

7—10

8—8 perhaps more

1814—2

17—2

18—1

It is quite possible that among the missing letters there were some of a nature more proper to be destroyed than preserved.3

If there be any letters from me between 1783 & 1799, I shall be particularly glad to know the dates & subjects of them.

In4 a letter to Mr. Jeff——n of Jany. 22. 1786,5 a printed proposition in the House of Delegates for giving commercial powers to Congs. is referred to as inclosed in the letter; but was not in it when returned. The proposition as printed is stated in the letter to have been referred to a Committee, & to have there recd. the alterations noted with the pen. This is the proposition referred to in the 1st. Vol. of the Laws of the U.S. page 53: and printed there, as it was materially altered in Come. of the Whole, and not as it was originally made. It is more probable that the Document was not preserved than that it was separated from the letter6 & is now to be found in the files of Mr. J. Should it however be there I could wish a sight of it.

Is there among the letters of Mr. J. to Mr. Adams Senr. one dated Decr. 28. 1796.7 The reason for the question I will explain when I see you.

Mrs. M. sends, under an unsealed cover a few Engsh. Newspapers for Mrs. Dunglison which she will thank you to forward; joining at the same time in the offer I make of best regards to Mrs. T. & yourself