Chambersburgh, P.A. 2 3rd October, 1795. Dear Sir, Yours by post dated 15th instant to hand. I am sorry for the death of your affectionatebrother as well the loss to me of a worthy partner. I hope he has made a happier change than this troublesome world could afford. One thing pleases me much that is every attention being paid to him while here. I am sorry to think of the distress of his Mother when this reaches her. In his last letter to me he requested not to let his illness to his Mother be known, that I could have done but alas the event with one hundred dollars to send home wi th some I am I cannot now conceal. He wrote a letter to her to send home. He says to send his Mother £35:0:0 but I will sendher the whole As to the store my mind has been fixed for some time n'case your brother should be called off. That is for to give the store to you on the same terms that your Brother to Thomas Reed had it. The charge is great I grant you, but by your care and attention I have every hopes of your being capable of the task. So that you are to lay buye the old books and open a set of new ones in the name of Alexander Reed & Company and advertise the outstanding debts to come in at least to have them settled and then not to distress any good customers There is no doubt before his decease he allowed you to have the profits arriving on his part of the store and I think it unnecessary to take an inventory of the goods as in the Spring before you went to him an inventory was taken. Of course your brother then knew how the store stood, if there should be any appearance of troublesome people indebted to the store. Thomas Scott, Esquire, will inform you how to proceed or our friend Mr. Henry Ruvianie. A number of people here have been unhealthy and several deaths but the most lamentable malady has raged in New York "the yellow fever" or nearly the same was in Philadelphia two years ago. The husband in the pangs of death when his wife or children could not be admittedto see him, or the same case with all connections be they ever so dear to him. Many hundreds have died and the City partly depopulated. The latest accounts say the fever has abated. There are two of my particular acquaintances in Philadelphia which is nor more, that I have dealt with for twelve years past, so that we one go before another and death is sure to all. I conclude with that hope that the Almighty will comfort you in trouble and believe me with sincere regards your affectionare friend. JOHN COLHOUN. - Mr. Alexander Reed.