On the 21st instt I was favored with your letter of the 10th.

I am very sorry that so trivial a matter as that related in it, should have given you one moments pain. There must have been some misconception on the part of Colo. Burgess Ball if he understood that I had been informed it was you, who had killed my English Buck; for no such information that I can recollect ever was given to me. I had heard before the rect of your letter but how, is more like a dream than reality, that that particular Deer was killed on Ravensworth. Nor did I ever suppose that you would have been so unneighbourly as to kill any of my Deer knowing them to be such; but as they had broke out of the Paddock in wch they had been confined & were going at large—and besides consisted as well of Country as English Deer I wished to protect them as much as I was able and upon that principle, and that alone, declined giving the permission you asked to hunt some of my Woods adjoining to yours—knowing that they did not confine themselves within my exterior fences—and moreover that, when Hounds are in pursuit no person could distinguish them from the wild Deer of the Forest.1 I thank yo. for yr kind wishes—& am sorry to hear you are in such bad health yourself & sincerely wish you may be restored to that which is good—My Compliments to Your Lady & Mrs McCarty 2 & I am Dr Sir Yr Obedt Hble Servt