From Charles Lee, 1800 | Bushrod Papers

Mrs Washington will be very much Oblidged by Judge Washington Solving the following Querys.

1st. When the Farm of Doguerun was let to Mr Lewis, Was it meant that the wheat sown on that Farm last Fall, And the expense of puting the same into the Ground should be paid for?

2d Is Mr Lewis to have by Valuation, or Actual Sale what part of the Stock, of Horses, Mules, Horned Cattle, Sheep, And Utensils, that are on Doguerun Farm, And in either Case, Would it not be best, that as soon as convenient this Valuation, or Sale, may take place? As the Horses & part of the Cattle are performing Mr Lewis Work, and at the same time living on the fodder & other Provender belonging to the Estate (Corn excepted), And then will be no Occasion for the Ballance of the Stock on that Farm, to supply any of the others, And they may be sold.

3d In making the Bargain with Mr Lewis for the Mill & Distillery was He to have for the use of His Lands the Manure made prior to the 1st January, the Genl had Ordered that as soon as convenient It should be carryd & put on the Meadow at Union Farm.

The Cattle at the Distillery will not be Wanted for any of the Farms they are feeding on the Slope from Mr Lewis Stills. The Estate finds them in Straw, or Coarse Hay, & Litter.

4th—Would it not be right to fix with Mr Lewis what He is to charge for the Slope to each ⅌ month, so long as they are at that place?

5th— The fields in Corn last year being small, And the Droughts severe, not above hay a Crop was made 950 Blls was the Amot on the whole Estate, And early in Octr both the Negroes and Stock were supplyed from the new Corn, so that by the large Consumption since on the Farms & at Mount Vernon the Crop will soon be exhausted. And to bring on to new Crop 500 Blls will be needed. Should not this be procured Immediately?

6th Has not Mrs Washington a right to Lease any of the unimproved Lands, or Lotts during her life, And would it not be proper for Her to do so?

As there are a small Farm in the under part of Loudon another in Hampshire near the Warm Springs. And some parts of a Lott in the Town of Alexria from which she may derive some Advantage by thus Leasing?

Information,

No clearing of any land is performing this Year on the Estate of Mount Vernon excepting what was Particularly ordered by the Genl.¹

Source Note

DTPF. Lee addressed the letter "Memoral Mr Washington to Judge Washington." BW wrote his response on the same letter.

1. BW noted his responses on the same page. They read:

"It was most certainly intended when an estimate was made of the rent to be paid by Mr Lewis that he should have the full benefit of the wheat sown on the Dogue run land, without paying anything more than the stipulated rent.

Mr. Lewis can retain the cattle horses sheep utensils &c on the Dogue run farm until a sale can take place, which I think should be as early as it can prudently be done, when I think it will be better & safer for all parties that he should purchase it what he wants of them.

As to the Mules Mrs Lewis says they were valued to him by the Genl at $80 each. I think it wd be equitable for him to pay my Aunt the interest of the Sum, or of the appraised value—the same thing as to the utensils, as they must be immediately used.

As to the manure I would rather not give an opinion respecting it; one or two friends I think had best decide it.

I think it would be proper to fix with Mr Lewis the compensation for the stop given to the Cattle, but some person better acquainted than myself with the subject must do it.

600 bbs Corn are already purchased from Colo. Washington a part of which will be deliver'd very shortly.

Mrs W. has certainly a right to lease the unimproved lands & Lots during her life & I think no time should be lost in doing it.

As there is a great sufficiency of cleared Land, I am pleased to find that no clearing is intended farther than was specially directed by the General. It would certainly be improper to pursue a different conduct.

B. Washington