An absence of 6. weeks in a distant county is the cause of this very late acknolegement of your letter of Nov. 11. covering the copy of a spa1 in Chancery by Gourley against a group of defs among whom I am named, without being able to conjecture the cause of it. you are free to consider the spa as served on me personally. I observe that mr Nicholas is a def. and presume he will not let us suffer before we are apprised of the matters with which we are charged. Accept the assurance of my respects.

Th: Jefferson