[editor’s note: I cannot guarantee perfect transcription on account of image quality] Cambridge 21 Augt 96 My Dear Sir I was so fortunate as to receive yours of the 13th to day, inclosing a Minerva Brain Jupiter great favor in all her attributes, [undecipherable] speech the Minerva shewed herself to be as dull as wise; [undecipherable] She has attended to little [undecipherable] that lucrative [undecipherable] of detert* vulgarly called adventurousness You know me too well not to give me respect for all due [hostility?] toward your Mr Wolcott [undecipherable] gives kind wishes respecting my furtive visitor of the [undecipherable] my past life — If pure and good [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I shall I hope notice - If it does not I am only the situation of an hundred western men - I know that there are a great many who expect [undecipherable] from which [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I will an my weakness to you, when I express a peace thanks though I can not with any conscience continue in Congress, I am my habits may not have exactly fitted me to enjoy much in a very atired[?!] life without mutual enjoyment of a masculine & enerjetic kind — Of their [undecipherable] & other things, we will hold a conversation in [undecipherable] when you shall philosophise me into as great a Con* Retirement as his worship [undecipherable] Liberated power the Tenor of [undecipherable] a ted pow court: Pray [undecipherable] cordially to [undecipherable] Wolcott Some time since I sent down an address to their majesties the [undecipherable] of Several [undecipherable] in my declining to serve — No candidate has yet been nominated — we shall have [undecipherable] a nearly of [undecipherable] the worst came to the worst — [undecipherable] said that the great Hindman has lately rendered a regiment in Queens Army [undecipherable] left his [undecipherable] in a small minority — [undecipherable] addressed them, he is an excellent man. Would it [undecipherable] not be a good time to paragraph & p* a little the late events of the West in the delivery of the posts — a manner, pointedly conciliatory [undecipherable] coins handsome secure to have characterised all the several carrender[?!] - as we have — much might be held of this at be - as kings wish to the kindness, of the Treaty * friends. Events Prove [undecipherable] fully to be a mysterry — Wayne [undecipherable]could in to the harmful [undecipherable] Entre into Detroit! [undecipherable] proceeded over the Barbarous — [undecipherable] the point [undecipherable] [undecipherable] *ted me to write an opinion on (W’s [undecipherable] I can collect acting but from unaided reflection In, I had no troops late [undecipherable] could find Precedents — if I had [undecipherable] I would search with pleasure & alacrity. I need not say that The people here are right & are deeply affected by the idea of the President Declining in case the chance of it — I wish he could [or would] terminate his great career by handing the government to its permanent seat - it would be a fine finish. I am my dear friend affectionately yours Wm V. Murray

21 Augt. 1796 Wm. V. Murray