I recieved your letter 4 days ago and am very much obliged to you for your kind permission, to go to Norfolk. But as I intend that to be the very last resort and since I am a great deal better, I shall not avail myself of the present opportunity, and am in hopes that it will not be necessary at all.

From the tener of your letter, it seems to me that I have been the unintentional cause of offence to you. Nothing could give me more sorrow; and I assure you, that is a source of great mortification to apply myself closely to my studies, to be strict in morals and to attempt a faithful discharge of my duties, and then to fail to give satisfaction, when nothing would afford me more pleasure than to do so, and when there are many others who are idle, prodigal, dissipated and yet seem to give perfect satisfaction. Of course, it is not my wish to appear, in the slightest degree whatever, censorial, but merely to show, as far as words can, that I know, what is right, if I know not how to perform it. I rest, however, in the full confidence, that after June, I may be able to minister to the cares of your declining age, in such a manner, as such a father as you have a right to expect from all your children. I am fully conscious, of having done many, countless improper actions, but let this be a partial extenuation, that a sojourn of two years and a half in a place like this, is enough to ruin a saint much more a mortal.

A short time ago, I recieved a very agreeable letter from Mr. Bingham.He doubtless had some motive for writing it, but what that motive may have been, I am unable to conjecture. I consider it in the light of a great favor, and shall remember his advice with peculiar pleasure.

Please give my love to brother Charles and brother William