About the end of 1793, I received from Mr. Dombey (then at Lyons) a letter announcing his intention to come here. And in May, 1794, I received one from a M. L'Epine, dated from New York, and stating himself to be master of the brig de Boon, Captain Brown, which had sailed from Havre with Mr. Dombey on board, who had sealed up his baggage and wrote my address on them, to save them in case of capture; and that when they were taken, the address did in fact protect them. He mentioned then the death of Mr. Dombey, and that he had delivered his baggage to the Custom House at New York. I immediately wrote to M. L'Epine, disclaiming any right or interest in the packages under my address, and authorizing, as far as depended on me, the consul at New York, or any person the representative of Mr. Dombey, to open the packages and dispose of them according to right. I enclosed this letter open to Mr. Randolph, then Secretary of State, to get his interference for the liberation of the effects. It may have happened that he failed to forward the letter, or that M. L'Epine may have gone before it reached New York. In any event, I can do no more than repeat my disclaimer of any right to Mr. Dombey's effects, and add all the authority which I can give to yourself, or the consul of France at New York, to do with those effects whatever I might do. Certainly, it would be a great gratification to me to receive the Metre and Grave committed to Mr. Dombey for me, and that you would be so good as to be the channel of my acknowledgments to Bishop Gregoire, or any one else to whom I should owe this favor. You wish to know the state of the air here during the late cold spell, or rather the present one, for it is at this moment so cold that the ink freezes in my pen, so that my letter will scarcely be legible. The following is copied from my diary. Sun rise. 3 P. M. Nov. 22 60 69 23 32½ 44 24 23 28 25 21 35 26 12 26 27 15 29 28 18 " 29 25 36 30 22 43 Dec. 19 50 48 20 19 " 21 24 " 22 12 " 23 5 below 0 11 24 0 20 25 18 32 26 21 30 27 15 29 28 18 34 29 30 39 30 31 34 } a snow 1½ inches 31 34 39 } deep. Jan. 1 0 30 43 2 28 33 3 23 30 } a snow 3 inches 4 23 30 } deep. 5 21 35 6 27 38 7 25 22 8 12