[Private] Mount Vernon 1 July 1796 Dear Sir By the Post, rather than by the Express, you will receive my Official letter, and its Enclosures. For the difference of a few hours, in a case that is not urgent, I would have you avoid, and exp is Expence to me. The letter does not travel faster than the Mails of Penn — there are not relays Sunday intervening; be more, a day does, responses are answers to arrive more than after the mail was closed — [strikethrough: 48 hours in] the receipt of the dispatches, and I read regularly, every Post day, to those due for my letters — I our Express Prope at yesterday at 3 oclock in the afternoon and if you had put the Letter in the Mail of Mid day, they would be clere here at 9 oclock this afternoon, at a price of 28 — [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] formation and by Cap^tn Lewis and is very pleasing, and I hope the orders on both sides will go smoothly into effect; but the Aurora who have doubts, that all is not well, notwithstanding. — This, however, is a matter of course; for the Executive Acts must be arraigned. I hope you have got perfectly recovered, and that M^rs M^c Henry and the rest of your Family, are well also — When I left Philadelphia, it was expected that M^r & M^rs Liston and from their own declaration was to favour on a visit to this place, in ten days; an interval of a few days — and her the Che^r de Freire & Lady were to follow them; and also M^r Adet gave me (tho' asked) no assurance that he would make me a visit, yet to M^r Fayette he said he should set out in ten days, — since which I have heard nothing from or of them which occasions me some, that impedes other arrangements. — If you could therefore indirectly, or at least informally, ascertain whether or not they, I am to receive these visits, I should be oblig'd to you, as it would enable me to regulate some other matters which depend thereon. — With sincere esteem & regard I am — Dear Sir Y^r [undecipherable] affectionate Go: Washington Friday 7 oclock } in the Morn^g. Have you allotted any Infantry for the Posts of Oswego & Niagara? — How many, & when will they be there? — James M^cHenry Esq^r