I forget whether I informed you in my last letter that a Copy of the decree which I then enclosed, was to be served upon the defendants who are of full age & upon the Guardian of the infants— This must be done, and notice of the Survey must also be given.

     I have examined the records in the General Court office which contain the writs of ad quod damnum & the Inquisitions returned thereon.

     I have conversed with Mr Brooke respecting Mrs Forbes and am enabled to give you the following history of that person— She is a widow—a Native of England & without a family—about 50 yrs of age—active & spirited in the execution of her business—sober & honest—well acquanted with Cookery & in his opinion capable of ordering & setting out a table. her appearance is decent & respectable & such is her general deportment.

     I went in pursuit of Mrs Forbes this morning, but could not find her— with the assistance of Mr Brooke I obtained an interview with her this evening at his house. her price is $150 a year— She will be at Mount Vernon in a month from this time, if her terms are accepted— sooner she cannot go.

     Your letter of the 23d I yesterday recieved. I waited upon Mr Brook today to make the necessary enquiries respecting Mrs Forbes. The Character he gives her, assures me that she will fully answer the purposes for which my Aunt wants her. She is honest, industrious, & well acquainted with nice as well as common Cooking, and other subjects of domestic employment necessary in her profession. But what surprizes me very much is, that she has recieved no letters from Mount Vernon—so Mr Brook informs me, & that she has remained in Richmond on that account.

     I now enclose you a Copy of the Grant you wrote for. The Inquisition cannot be found. I have directed the Clerk to continue his search, and if he should succeed, a Copy shall be immediately forwarded. if you can give a more particular description of it, from any papers in your possession, it may assist in the discovery. with love to my Aunt I am my dear Uncle Most Sincerely Yr Affect. Nephew

     I now enclose you my opinion upon the points stated in your letter of the 9th.

     As you may possibly wish to submit it to the consideration of your Counsel, I have left out of it, such parts of the subject as are unconnected with the cause, & need only be communicated confidentally to yourself.

     In 1762 Simon Pearson being seized of an estate in fee tail in 178 acres conveyed the same by deed of Bargain & Sale to George Washington Esq. with a general warranty, having first sued out a writ of ad quod damnum for the purpose of docking the intail, and which was regularly executed according to Law, unless the following objections to it, should be deemed valid. 1.

     George Washington Surviving Exectr of Thos Colville decd

vs Thos West Exectr, Devisee & heir at Law of Jno. West Junr decd who was one of the Executors of Thos Colville & the nearest relations of Catharine Colville mother of the said Thos Colville of the names of Stot, Will, Richardson & Smith or their decendants.

     I have the pleasure to inform You, that the suit in behalf of the Commonwealth against you was dismissed at the last General Court. I had never any doubt, but that this would be the event of the cause, after the Certificates which you sent me.

     I recieved the letter which you did me the honor to write and now enclose You a Copy of Gills Bill, which is this moment recieved. You will please get some professional Gentleman to draw your answer, which together with the Copy now enclosed send me as soon as possible.

     You may rely upon my best exertions being used for your interest‑ I have the honor to be Madam Yr mo. ob. Servt

     I had the honor to recieve your favor of the 16th Jany some days ago, and have postponed an answer to it, hoping that with the a<illegible> from memoranda I <illegible> the information requested— But <I> cann<ot>[.] all that I recol<l>ect of Mr Nortons Affair is that I saw & ap<p>roved of the deed, and upon expressing that approbation in writing Mr Blair I suppose paid the mony— The deed I am satisfied was forwarded to Mr Prescot, for I recollect giving him directions respecting the mode of proving it so as to

     I recd your favor of the 10th during my confinement under a severe attack of the Pleuresy— I am now on the recovery, tho’ very weak, nor have I yet left my room.

     The deed you wrote for is now enclosed, but I find it was not recorded within the time prescribed by Law.

     I have received no answer to my letter respecting your Kanawa Lands. As that letter was interesting to you, I hope it did not miscarry.

     Colo. Selden applied for payment of the forty eight Dollars I owe him, and refused to accept your draft upon him for that Sum.

     It is out of my power to pay him at present without your aid & therefore I now send to request You will send me that Sum—Also let me know when I may expect the pork— I am uneasy for fear of a disappointment which will be extremely unfortunate as I have depended upon this for part of my years allowance. I am Yr ob. Svt

     It is useless to make apologies, because I am persuaded that to a decrease of friendship neither of us will attribute the long silence of the other; in such a Case business may properly be admitted as an excuse, & I am satisfied that we may both avail ourselves of this plea.

     I recieved your favor by last post for which accept my grateful acknowledgements. I shall make the necessary enquiries, and then pursue such steps as may insure to me the benefit of your bounty.

     My opinion upon the case you submitted to me at Fredg has been long since forwarded to you, and it is probably in the post office at Fredg or Culpepper if you have a post to yr County. Should it not have reached you let me know.

     I have made such amendments to your Bill as appear to me proper— they are as follows.

     1. I refer to yr fathers Will as part of the Bill— you will therefore furnish me with a Copy of it.

     2d Your mothers will, whereby she devises to you all her Estate except some Legacies which have been discharged— I shall also want a Copy of that Will.

     I am Just setting off to Fredg & have only time to enclose you with a N. Subpa, which please have delivered to the proper Shf. your Letr respecting the other suit aggt Nayles' Ence I recd and shall attend to‑With much respect I am Dear Sir Yr Mo. Ob. Sert

     I rec: your letter of the 10th with a bundle of papers which I have examined. I had before issued a Subpœna from the Court of Chancery, and I wish to file the Bill, during the present Session that I may be enabled to obtain an order to be inserted in the Gazette warning the residuary Legatees to come forward with their respective pretensions. Your great object I know is to close this business, and obtain a quietus from all parties concerned.

     I have been for some time dreading Jerry's arrival and yet anxious to hear the reason of his Stay; I began to be really apprehensive that you or my sister were ill, not suspecting that a letter could be so long on its Journey from this to Westmoreland. Nancy & myself are very low spirited at the approaching seperation from our dear mother whose company has really made months but weeks in appearance. I have made every calculation most favourable to my own wishes on the Subject to authorise us in accompanying her.

     I recd some time ago papers from Mr Keith respecting your Executorship of Colvill's estate.

     I shall immediately bring suit in the Court of Chancery in order finally to close that business and to releive you from embarrassment as to the disposition of the mony on hand. I will thank you to give me the general outlines of the business, and of your wishes, that I may be enabled thereby to frame my Bill.

I recd your favr by Gen. Lee a day or two ago, and have now only time to acknowledge it and to assure you of my best attention to its contents, so as to carry your wishes into effect. Present me if you please to the Ladies & believe me most sincerely Your affec. & obedt sevrt¹

     Your suit will probably be tried this Court. One of the pleas is fully administer'd. It will be necessary for you to furnish me with your administration Account Inventory appraisement vouchers &c. If you have settled any Account with the Court send me those likewise. I send you a subpena in case you should have witnesses to summon. I am Sir Your Obt Sert

     I obtained a Judgment agt Mr Hunter for Phyn Ellis & Ingles & issued an execution, but little or nothing was obtained, I believe— of this I informed you shortly before you left America— I also informed you that I had understood Mr Hunter had subjected his real property to the payment of his debts— But of this I am not certain— no person I believe has qualified as Exectr to his will— it would be well for you to get a copy of his will or in some manner obtain information how he has left his property & in what it consists— I am so far removed from Alexa