I received this morning your kind letter of the 11th. and return you my respectful & sincere acknowledgements for the friendly good wishes with which you have honored me: Coming as they do from an aged patriot so long and so eminently distinguished in the estimation of his country they can not be otherwise than extremely flattering to me. I shall soon be familiar with all the forms of this Office and have no fears now that so far as my duties are concern’d the nation shall have no cause of dissatisfaction.

I will with great pleasure attend to the subject of your letter and will be very happy at any time to hear from you on any matter in which you may be concerned. With my best wishes for your health & happiness with those of your family I remain Dear Sir Yours truly