Washington Mar. 14. 05. Dear Sir Your letter of Feb. 9. comes to hand in the moment of my departure on a short visit to Monticello. I have time therefore only to thank you for the information it contains, and to pray you to continue it, as it is impossible for me to govern without information. I wish to know everything & then do what I find is right. On your information I have reliance. -- Your map & report arrvied 3. or 4. days only before Congress rose. I communicated them. They were entirely disposed to compensate your labour, but they had past the stage of appropriations. An effort was made to insert an appropriation in the Post office bill which was still unpassed; but it was declared to be so unprecedented, & so dangerous to let appropriations be slipt into bills so much out of their due course that it was struck out, and [inserted: it] was too late to introduce it otherwise. It lies over therefore for next session. In the mean time mr Gallatin says you need not suffer for money, as you are authorised to draw as surveyor, & may draw the more largely, to be allowed in your future accounts. I have written to Govr. Claiborne about the location & survey of La Fayette's lands. Pray attend to it, as you would were it my case. It is nearer my heart than my own concerns. Accept my affectionate salutations. Th: Jefferson Isaac Briggs [inserted in the left margin:] P.S. the members talked of allowing 1000. or 1200. D. for expenses & services of yourself & assistant, leaving the partition of it to you.