I received this morning your favour of the 29th of last month inclosing The Rural Repository, in which are the Sentiments of Clericus on the Banks.1 His opinions are too well founded: and his Advice to young Candidates for the Ministry is sound and Salutary. One would think that the People of America had made Experiments enough, to have discovered the nature of Money by this Time. But it is too true that Experience is lost upon Mankind. The Errors of the Fathers are lost to the sons, and every Generation must repeat the same Follies. The Banks are too numerous and each one emits too much Paper. Credit at a Bank has been converted into trading Capital, and that Capital lost in England and France. Distress must ensue.

I have not yet heard of any Bill in Congress making Alterations in the Post Roads: if I should see any such Bill coming forward I will communicate your Observations upon the Subject to some of the members.

I thank you, Sir for the Pleasure you have given me in reading the inclosed Papers which I shall return with this.2

The Prospect before me, of which you Speak in terms of so much kindness and Friendship, is indeed Sufficient to excite very Serious Reflections. My Life, from the time I parted from you at Colledge has been a Series of Labour and Danger and the short Remainder of it, may as well be worn as rust. My Dependence is on the Understanding and Integrity of my fellow Citizens, for Support with submission to that benign Providence which has always protected this Country, and me, among the rest, in its service.

I shall always be glad to hear of your Welfare, and to receive any Communications from you for the Public good. I am sir with great Regard / your humble servant

Permit me much respected Sir, to congratulate Your Excellency, as well as the good Citizens of America, on Your late election to the Presidency of the United States, and to assure You Sir, that from every information that can be collected, it was the general wish of most of the good people of Virginia, who are attached, to order & good Government, that this happy & fortunate event should take place, and I trust (notwithstanding the newspaper calumny) You will in the course of Your Adminstration experience as full and Ample support from this as from any other State in the Union—

Should You Sir, be in want of a Young Man to live in Your family as a Secretary or for any other purpose, I take the liberty at the request of some friends, to Recommend to Your notice, Mr John Griffin a Son of Judge Griffins, he is twenty five Years old, of fair Character & has had a liberal education, has spent two Years in England & nearly the same time in France, and I am told by good Judges, understands the french Language tolerably well, his Auacity to be honord with a place in Your excellencys family has been my principal motive for hazarding this solicitation—1 with a fervent prayer for the health happiness and prosperity of Yourself and family I am / with due respect & esteem / Sir / Your obdt freind & servt