Sir:

On the evening of the 8th Instant I had the honor to receive by post your Excellency’s letters of the 12th & 13th Ultimo. And I have the pleasure to inform you that my Colleague Mr. Hawkins arrived yesterday after a very disagreeable Journey in which he experienced some unavoidable detention. I have also received from Mr. Jno. G. Blount an Extract of the Act which Authorizes the Delegates in Congress to sell and dispose of the public Tobacco.

It is the opinion of Mr. Hawkins and myself that we cannot, with any propriety, offer the Tobacco for sale until we are informed at what particular place and the Time when it can be delivered, and quantity & quality at each place, as all these will be requisite with every Buyer who means to pay for it, and if we should be able to say that it has been lately re-inspected at the Ports of Delivery and reweighted it would undoubtedly insure a better price, to the other parts we shall pay the earliest & utmost attention. As a Gentleman waits at my Elbow for the honor of bearing this, with Impatience I have only Time to add that,