Scope and Contents Social letters in the first two of which there is much religious advice.

Scope and Contents More regarding the failure of the family business.

Scope and Contents His trip south, describing the lot of 1,800 gallery slaves of Rochefort chained n their cells, then the beauties of the cities of Bordeaux; he is examining the canals of south France.

Scope and Contents The failure of the business house of John Robinson and of a loan to that company made by the sister of B.I.G.

Scope and Contents One more winter, then to return home after visits to England and Holland.

Scope and Contents A debt on the business house of John Robinson which has recently failed.

Scope and Contents The failure of Moncure, Robinson, and Pleasants mercantile house and urging Moncure Robinson to return home as soon as possible.

Scope and Contents Advises that John Robinson return home as soon as possible, in order to take advantage of the employment opportunities in Virginia.

Scope and Contents Possibility of action by the State Legislature on the James River Canal; enquiry regarding steam navigation.

Scope and Contents He advises his brother to stay on in Europe, to complete what he had undertaken; Conway Robinson is to undertake a law career and their father will become Clerk of the Superior Court.

Scope and Contents Recommends that Moncure Robinson stay in Europe until he finishes his course of study.

Scope and Contents Sends a remittance to Moncure Robinson and is hopeful of future mercantile success.

Scope and Contents He plans to look beyond Virginia for employment upon his return a year hence; the more he sees of France, the less he likes it.

Scope and Contents A professorship at the University of Virginia which might be available; the lessening of interest in "internal improvement" n the country, so less need for engineers; Virginia politics.

Scope and Contents Moncure Robinson has heard that the Governor is to appoint Mr. Crozet as chief engineer who "as a civil engineer is the merest pretender"; French engineering is far behind that of England and the U.S.; he expects to be free of his dependence upon Virginia when he returns.

Scope and Contents Reports that the better grounded he is in the practice of England and the theory of France (in engineering) the more completely will he insure himself of employment in "some other quarter of our Union" outside of Virginia; he is still trying to overcome the effects of the fevers he contracted while working on the James River improvement in previous years.

Scope and Contents Suggests that Moncure Robinson return in the summer because of their father's financial difficulties.

Scope and Contents Conway Robinson encourages Moncure Robinson to return and make application for a professorship at the University of Virginia; he discusses the political changes that have taken place in Virginia; John Robinson urges Moncure Robinson to apply for the position.

Scope and Contents Moncure Robinson doubts that he will be offered the position of Professor of Mathematics at Charlottesville (University of Virginia); he plans to leave at the end of the lecture period for another tour of English engineering examples; he tells of the political conflicts of France, of the King and the minister.

Scope and Contents A trip to Vichy over almost impossible roads, with humorous anecdotes of their experiences.

Scope and Contents His visit to the port engineering works at Cherbourg; fellow countrymen he has met in Paris; the election of Gen. La Fayette to the Chamber of Deputies by two votes.

Scope and Contents The members of his family in Philadelphia, whom Moncure Robinson is to meet on his return to the U.S. at the end of the summer.

Scope and Contents Interest in railways in Maryland, the election of the professor at the University of Virginia, and affairs at home; comment on the new government in Britain.

Scope and Contents The appointment of the professor at the University of Virginia; their mother's interest in the Conway family arms and the Conway Castle in Wales; the family troubles which includes the selling of the servants and real property in order to pay off the indebtedness of the failed mercantile enterprise.

Scope and Contents Includes an extract from a letter written by James Brown, U.S. Minister in Paris, in which Mr. Moncure Robinson is favorably mentioned. Franked by James Monroe.