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Dear Sir:

I have had the honor of receiving sundry letters from you, since having the pleasure to write you last, viz: Of the 16th August, advising the Ordinance for regulating the Indian Department had passed and that Congress had postponed the appointment of the Superintendent of the Southern District. Since which the Secretary of Congress has transmitted me a Copy of the Ordinance, and am very much obliged to you for signifying your wish that I should recommend or advise in the choice of Superintendent. But really Sir, I do not know any person that I think would accept it, whom I would venture to recommend.

Of the 24th of August, enclosing orders for Mr. Hindman from the Board of Treasury. For your attention to this business be

pleased to accept my sincere thanks, as I am satisfied it will be in my power to render essential services to my Country in the settlement of those Accounts, at a place where I can with convenience attend occasionally.

Of the 28th of August enclosing a Letter from the Vice Consul of France to the Delegates. There have been frequent complaints both to my predecessor in office and myself from the Consul General, the Charge des Affaires, the Consul for the three Southern States and from Mr. Petry, of the Tardiness of our payment of the Debt due the Government of Martinico from this State, but none so pointedly stated as this. Gov. Martin has granted a warrant in favor of Messrs. J. G. & Thos. Blount for about £1200 to be laid out in produce and remitted to Philadelphia. And since my entering last on Administration, I have furnished them with warrants to the amount of the remainder of this Debt and had expected that before this, the whole of the remittances were made.

Mr. Jno. G. Blount is one of the Commercial Commissioners, now attending in his place at Annapolis, and Mr. Thos. Blount is in Europe, so that I cannot immediately learn the true state of these remittances. As soon as I am able to obtain the same I will write the Vice Consul on that subject.

I am really much concerned in hearing that your divisions respecting Northern and Southern Interest still prevail in that August Body. Will these disputes and divisions be communicated to Inferior Bodies & Classes of them, who have not nor can not have the same advantages in knowledge? I fear, nay, I know, they must be, so long as they continue a Clog and dead weight on the public business, which it is the wish of every good man, and the duty of every man, to dispatch with prudence.

Col. Blount wrote me a few days ago he intends setting out for New York about the first of October. Mr. Nash and Mr. Burton I expect will also set out, so as to be in time to relieve you and Dr. White. On your return you will, I hope, be able to state matters in such a point of view to the Assembly as shall induce them to make the necessary provision for the Delegation, so that in the next Tour it will prove satisfactory & agreeable to you.

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