The following is a quotation from a letter from Virginia, dated July the
12th.  ’P------n, though much impaired in health, and in every respect in
the decline of life, showed as much zeal to carry the new constitution,
as if he had been a young man; perhaps more than he discovered in the
commencement of the late revolution,in his opposition to Great Britain. 
W------e acted as chairman to the committee of the whole, and of course
took but little part in the debate; but was for the adoption, relying
on subsequent amendments.  B------r said nothing, but was for it.  The
G------r exhibited a curious spectacle to view.  Having refused to sign
the paper, every body supposed him against it; but he afterwards had
written a letter, and having taken a part, which might be called rather
vehement than active, he was constantly laboring to show, that his
present conduct was consistent with that letter, and that letter with
his refusal to sign.  M—­d—­n took the principal share in the debate for
it; in which, together with the aid I have already mentioned, he was
somewhat assisted by I--nn--s, Lee, M------l, C------n, and G. N------s. 
M--s--n, H------y, and Gr------n were the principal supporters of the
opposition.  The discussion, as might be expected, where the parties
were so nearly on a balance, was conducted generally with great order,
propriety, and respect of either party to the other.’

The assembly of Virginia, hurried to their harvests, would not enter into a discussion of the district bill, but suspended it to the next session.  E. Winston is appointed a judge, vice Gabriel Jones, resigned.  R. Goode and Andrew Moore, Counsellors, vice B. Starke, dead, and Joseph Egglestone, resigned.  It is said Wilson, of Philadelphia, is talked of to succeed Mr. A. in London. Quaere?

The dispute about Virgil’s tomb and the laurel, seems to be at length settled, by the testimony of two travellers, given separately, and without a communication with each other.  These both say, that attempting to pluck off a branch of the laurel, it followed their hand, being, in fact, nothing more than a plant or bough recently cut, and stuck in the ground for the occasion.  The Cicerone acknowledged the roguery, and said they practised it with almost every traveller, to get money.  You will, of course, tug well at the laurel which shall be shown you, to see if this be the true solution.

The President Dupaty is dead.  Monsieur de Barentin, premier president de la cour des aides, is appointed Garde des Sceaux.  The stocks are rather lower than when you left this.  Present me in the most friendly terms to Messrs. Shippen and Rutledge.  I rely on your communicating to them the news, and, therefore, on their pardoning me for not repeating it in separate letters to them.  You can satisfy them how necessary this economy of my time and labor is.  This goes to Geneva poste restante.  I shall not write again till you tell me where to write to.