My dear Sir,

I have not written to you since we parted, but had just set down to do it when your letter of the 13^th. instt. was brought to me from the Post Office in Alexandria.

It gave Mrs. Washington, myself and all who knew him, sincere pleasure to hear that our little favourite* had arrived safe, and was in good health at Portsmouth. We sincerely wish him a long continuance of the latter, that he may always be as charming and promising as he now is, and that he may live to be a comfort and blessing to you and an ornament to his Country; as a testimony of my affection for him, I send him a Ticket in the lottery which is now drawing in the Federal City**; and if it should be his fortune to draw the Hotel it will add to the pleasure I have in giving it.

We remained in Philadelphia until the 10^th. instt. It was my wish to have continued there longer; but as Mrs. Washington was unwilling to leave me surrounded by the malignant fever wch. prevailed, I could not think of hazarding her and the Children any longer by my continuance in the City the house in which we lived being, in a manner blocaded, by the disorder and was becoming every day more and more fatal; I therefore came off with them on the above day and arrived at this place the 14^th. without encountering the least accident on the Road.