Understanding that you are to be in Alexandria a day or two, I send you a letter from Mr. Peter respecting the $1500 to be paid to him on account of Mrs. E P. Custis also two other in answer to our circular letter, you will please let Mr. Peter hear from you as early as possible. Very truly yours

     AS we hope that the time is not far distant when we shall be enabled to close our executorial duties, we feel anxious to do so under such a sanction as to prevent all future disputes when we are gone. Our accounts to the last of the year 1819 have been settled, under orders of Fairfax Court and approved.

     AS we hope that the time is not far distant when we shall be enabled to close our executorial duties, we feel anxious to do so under such a sanction as to prevent all future disputes when we are gone. Our accounts to the last of the year 1819 have been settled, under orders of Fairfax Court and approved. The only difficulty we apprehend, and wish to avoid, is, the settlement of the individual accounts of the legatees; and this difficulty consists, as we apprehend, principally in the mode of calculating the interest.

     I en[c]lose two letters for your perusal and advice[.] the one from Diggs, the matter referd to, I have not the smallest recollection of, and am fully persuaded it is only a trick, upon a supposition that rather than such a matter should be brought into court the Executors will relinquish the claim, the Wheat charged to him & which he says was an exchange of seed and, delivered to Hyland Crow an overseer of the Genls must be false, Hyland Crow lived with the Genl in the year 1796 and left him in the fall of the same, at this time Mr P

Your letter of the 5th Inst. accompany'd by the Bond drawn by you as executed by Mr Ludwell Lee and Gerard Alexander was handed to me last evening, I highly approve of the arrangement you have made, it will no doubt be very advantageous to Mr A. as well as us— I am persuaded very few persons would have been at the Sale, in consequence of a report that the debt had been settled, and no Sale was to take place— Mr Alexander in his letter to me of yesterday begs that the 20th day of November may be made the day of Sale, and thinks it will be unnecessary to advirtize it in the Alexa.

     The lease from Geo: Washington to Hamiltree (which I [t]hink is the name of the tenant— Mr Lee has his name) is in the hands of Mr Wiley to whome he has paid one or two rents; I do not recollect the date of the lease, but believe it must have been given in 1803 or 1804— I have never seen the lease, or contract, but am under the impression Mr Wiley told me he was only a tenant at will I am sorry I cannot give you any positive information on this subject— Affecly yours

     We wrote you some time ago respecting Mr. Henry Banks' claim to the Kentucky land, which formed a part of Gen. Washington's estate, and stated the apparent validity of his title.

     I have search'd every paper, both of my own & of the Estates & cannot find Lee's Bond or contract I have also look'd amongst your paper to no purpose— I will recollect having given you the bond & Contract at the time we determined to bring suit a gainst Genl Lee for the Amt— did you never put these papers into the hands of a Lawyer for this purpose.

     You have no doubt been informed, that our testator, some time before his death, sold his Dismal Swamp property to Gen. Lee, without however, having made a deed for the same. Some part of the consideration money was paid, but the exact amount is not now recollected.

     Genl Washington in his life time sold to Archd McClain, what was call'd the round bottom tract, on the Ohio, containing 587 acres, with a general Warranty, at the price of ten dollars an Acre. He was bound to take in part payment a House in Alexa. at valuation, The house has been valued, (very high as we think) and possession deliver'd to us. McClain has been sued by Tomlinson for a considerable part of this land, and a judgment was render'd against him as we understand, upon the ground that the survey was made prior to the warrant.

     Genl Washington in his life time sold to Arch. McLain what was called the round bottom tract on the Ohio, as containing 587 acres, with a general warranty, at the price of ten dollars an acre. He was bound to take in part payment a house in Alexa. at valuation. This house has been valued, (very high as we think,)  and possession delivered to us. McLain has been sued by Tomlinson for a considerable part of this land, and a Judgt was rendered against him as we understand upon the ground that the survey was made prior to the warrant.

     At a time when we hoped to recieve mony from you & thought it not unreasonable to expect it, we were greatly disappointed in getting an argumentative letter in which you endeavor to prove that we cannot legally call upon you for payment of any sum until some future period. The ground upon which you seem solely to rely is that for want of a deed, you have not been legally in possession of the land.

     The enclosed papers were left with me by Mr Geo: Washington for your inspection Mr Hammond he said wished to know whether from them he is to considered a legatee.

I cannot find Sheppards letter I am very certain I gave it to you we were comparing it with the Will, & it is probable you put it up with that, it is of much consequence to me as it has a Receipt upon it for the money paid by me. Be so good as to send me Marshall’s receipt. Yours most sincerely

     Below is Stated an Acct pd by me & which all the Legatees stand charged with. this is exclusive of money paid them on Acct of the money recd of Ship and which I have not stated. the Money was deposited in the Bank of Alexandria, and our joint checks will shew how that has been paid away— I will state H. Lewis A/c. which will shew how all the suit stand.

     Dr Howell Lewis in Acct with the Executors Genl Washington

1802

Capt. Hammond has come prepard to make some arrangement with you as it regards the claim of the Estate upon him, he wishes me to say that the arrangement made between you will be agreeable to me I have no hesitation in saying that any agreement you may enter into with him I will confirm. I am most truly yours

     I have been requested by Saml Washington to forward to him the Patent for the tract of Land on the Kanakwa devided between <Thos> Hammond, and the heirs of Corbin Washington & a certifyd copy of the deed of Partition—to enable him to recover the Land sold by T. Hammond— Will you look at the inclosed <mutilated>hers, & do that which you may think best f<mutilated>is interest— I should not have troubled one with this but understanding you would not be at Mount Vernon before your departure for Philadelphia I thought it best to send them to you.

     The petitions of Bushrod Washington and Lawrence Lewis acting Executors of George Washington deceased respectfully sheweth that on the decree pronounced by this Honorable Court on the 22nd day of the last April Session of this Court in the cross suits of Mary D. Washington Executrix of Lawrence A. Washington decd and others against your petitioners, and your petitioners William L.