I sit down at this time to acknowledge the receipt of, and reciprocate the friendly feelings manifest in, yours of the 7th. inst, and although surrounded by a press of business shall take pleasure in spending a few moments to reply.

I would take the greatest pleasure imaginable in coming down to on a visit to see you and all my friends in your would business & circumstances permit, but it would be a matter of impossibility almost for me leave here home at the present time in consequence of a multitude of business which I have daily to attend to; Moreover wisdom and prudence seem to forbid my coming on account of the bitter feeling which manifests itself in various places between this and , not that I have any apprehensions for my personal safety, for the same kind hand which hath hitherto been my shield and support would save me from the power of my wicked persecutors but you know something might grow out of it which would prompt my adversaries to get out another illegal writ and would eventually probably cost me <​some​> three or four thousand dollars as in other cases and under which I have still to labor to disadvantage Under these considerations therefore, I am compelled to decline paying you a visit for the present, at the same [p. [1]]