The Will should be proved at the first Fairfax Court, and this can be easily done by Mr Lewis's carrying it up and presenting it to the Court for probate, the whole of it being in the Testator's own hand writing and that well Known by most of the members of the Court.

     An Inventory of the whole estate (except Land) of whatever nature and to whoever given should be immediately made out, specifying each & every article by its proper Name, except as to the Stocks & horses, which may be set down according to their number species & sex. The inventory may be taken previous to proving the will.

     When the will is proved such of the executors as happen to be present ought to qualify thereto, and then obtain an order appointing Commissioners to appraise the property mentioned in the inventory. When every thing is prepared so as to diminish as much as possible the trouble of the Appraisers, they may be sent for and the property produced to them— I think it will be proper to appraise every thing, since the nature of an Executor's oath requires it.

     The next thing to be done is to provide the means of paying all the debts and legacies. The executors have a power to dispose of any part of the personal estate for these purposes, but it will be as much our duty, as I trust it will be inclinations to select such of the property as my Aunt thinks she can best spare and such as from its nature can produce her no profit. Of this description I consider the Jacks (except the Knight of Malta) and Jennies, the Stud horse, and other horses & Mares which Mr Anderson may consider as unprofitable & useless to the estate— The sooner these are sold the better after the consent of the other executors can be obtained and due notice in one of the Alexa., Fredg & Richmond papers is given. The next article for sale will be the flour & wheat on hand; if the latter can be ground up and the whole Kept <ap>til the spring a good price may be obtained, and this I think ought to be done if possible. But if demands of a pressing nature are made, I think we ought to prepare for their discharge without regarding sacrifices.

     Should my Aunt pursue the plan I have recommended of getting clear of her negroes & of plantation cares & troubles, there will be horses, Mules, cattle, sheep, hogs & plantation utensils for sale to a considerable amount; but as she will Keep the estate this year in its present situation, these sales will not be in time to meet the demands against the estate. It will be better therefore for Mr Anderson to make out a schedule of such parts of the property mentioned in this clause as he thinks can be spared without injury; & they I think should be sold in the spring.

     There are many other articles which possibly may be spared, some of which (such as the riding horses, watch &c. &c.) which having been particularly attached to the General's person ought not I think to be exposed to public Sale. a Just valuation may perhaps be placed upon them by the agreement of the Legatees, and taken by them at such price. As to these articles I allude to such only as my Aunt may not please to Keep in her own possession during her life.

     The specific Legatees ought to be informed of the bequests to them as soon as the will is proved, and they should also be informed that such legacies will be deliver'd on demand.

     The houses in the City of Washington ought I think to be finished as expeditiously as possible, and the General's contract relative thereto ought to be performed by his Executors with punctuality. To do this it will probably be necessary to hasten the sales of such parts of the estate as can be spared, as much as circumstances will admit. This property when rented will I hope afford my Aunt not only a handsome income but one which can easily be collected.

     As to the property rented to Welch, some confidential person should be sent to the premises in order to distrain for the rents now due, It is not probable that a sufficiency of property for payment of the rents can be found, yet this step is necessary before any regular measures for recovering possession of the property can be pursued.