Having been unexpectedly called to this place to visit a sick Friend has prevented me from acknowledging the Receipt of your Favor of last Month. I will willingly act as your Attorney at the Meeting of the Proprietors of the Dismal Swamp Company to be held at Suffolk on the first Thursday in May next, or in any other manner I can serve you.

     Since my last to you, I have made particular Inquiry of the Agent, a most intelligent Gentleman, respecting the Soil of the Dismal S. Company's Land, & the propriety of appropriating one or two thousands Dollars annually from our present large Dividends to be laid out in the purchase of negro Boys & Lads to have a sufficient force in readiness to [manuscript image cut off here]