Dear Sir:

I am honored with your favor of the 30th Ulto., containing a return of the Tobacco by you purchased for the public. This return appears to me consitent with the intention of the Council of State in their recommendation to me. It is true, that I expected where any appeared, on a survey, to be damaged, it would be necessary to pick it, so as not only to separate the good from the bad and damaged, but also to prevent that damaged from water from being further communicated to the good. This I believe will be effected by the measures you have taken.

Reports with me are, from their frequency, grown less and disagreeable & of course I do not pay that attention to them as formerly. However, I often feel for those whose rectitude I am well satisfied in, and believe me, Sir, I have ever, and do still, consider you as one of those, and shall not easily be led to believe the contrary. The reports respecting your purchases have not been carried so great a length here, as you mention. What further may be necessary to be done to or with the Tobacco will undoubtedly fall within your province; no insinuations of others would induce me to apply to any other, as I know, upon a proper investigation of facts as they really were, your Country will be as well satisfied with your Conduct as I am in this particular.

I have written to the Board of Treasury, and expected before this to have had their further advice and directions respecting the Tobacco, but have not been favored with a line from them since the Council's determination. You shall be informed whenever they think proper to say anything to me on this subject.