I recd your letter dated the 8th of March Ulto but which appears from the Post Stamp to have been put in the Office the 17th of July, the first day of this month and should have answered it before this time had I not been owing to sickness in my family The Commissioners of the Revd in this and Kanawha Counties, had their books made acct before your letter Came to hand but in this County where the greater number of tracts lie I have got the Comr to charge them at the latter part of the books out of their Alphabetical order and have requested the Comr of Kanawha to do the sa

I have recd your favour of the 17th and with pleasure communicate any information which I possess, which may be useful to Mr Davis.

Not being at home when your Letter arrived will be a sufficient apology for my not answering it sooner, in the buisiness of McClaines Land I fully authorise you to Act as you may think best with which I will be satisfied. I am respectfully your Obt Sv.

I am favored with your letters dated the 11th inst. in regard to the business with McClean, and the Round Bottom tract of Land. I have no hesitation in saying we had better take back the Land, and make the best terms we can with McClain— As far as I am interested, I am willing to submit to your discretion, whatever may seem most beneficial for the whole, and beg you will consider yourselves as entirely unshackled by me in this arrangement. I am very respectfully Dr Sir's Yr Mo. Obt Sevt

Your Letter of the 6th Int. I have this day recd.

Mr Parks having agreed to give the Deed of Trust, I have spoken to Mr Hay, who is willing to take it. Mr Parks to give his bond with the Deed, & the property to be sold if not paid in twelve months. If you will be kind enough to take the papers with you to Baltimore, when you go on your Circuit, the papers may be executed. The Bond I suppose must be made to Col: Washington, & by him assigned to me, & by me, to the persons who have the agreement. I am with great respect your obedt Servt

Having determined to advertise my Kenhawa Land in some of the Western Papers it becomes necessary to designate the portion of Lot No. 9 which may fall to my share— the last time we conversed upon the subject—I think you mentioned it was not material to you which part of the Lot you possessed— Mr Lewis will of course have the upper part—& if agreable to you I will take the lower 400 acres, or if you would prefer it—the middle woud answer me as well— Your answer before Monday will much oblige me.

     J. Madison presents his respects to Judge Washington and takes the liberty of sending him the inclosed papers left in his hands by <2m> Lewis the son of Mr F. Lewis, who did not live to apply for them. Should any other destination be proper, the Judge will be so obliging as to give it to the papers.

I regret extremely that I did not, until yesterday, receive your fav. of the 12th int— this happened in consequence of an indisposition that confined me to the House for the last 10 or 12 days, and my neglect during that time, to send to the Post Office.

The [following] is a copy of the law requested by you.¹

I recd your favor of yesterday, the interest you have taken in my affair, in your communication with Mr Hoy, I very sincerely thank you for, and I loose no time in answering your Letter. I do assure you I am as anxious to pay this debt as Mr Hoy can be to receive it, and if it was in my power to settle it at the shortest period that could be thought of for the convenience of Mr Hoy; it would give me unspeakable pleasure to do so, but to name a time that I could not possibly comply with, would be only trifling with him, and exceedingly injurious to myself.

     The day before yours of the 7 In[s]t.

I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 13th and 30th Ultimo by the last of which I find you have satisfied yourself of the mode to be pursued relative to the lands being entered upon the Commissioners books of the County where it lies, the uncertainty of the copy of the Deeds reaching the Commissioners of the respective Counties is such that I would recommend those concerned to see to its being done.

     Three days since, I paid Doctor F. Peyton the amount of yr order, with interest from the 25th of March, & have his recpt for the same. As this in great measure settles my debit to the Estate I would thank you for the two old bonds, I gave at the 1st sale.

     I beg leave to introduce to you, your Nephew, who is so much grown that I suppose you would scarcly know him, he arrved here the 21st after a tedious passage of 20 days, and being anxious to see his Relations at Mount Vernon, & his Brother informing him you were to leave home in a day or two, he imbraces the present opportunity of visiting you; he was happy in meeting his brother & Sister here, who arrived the day before him; Bushrod and his Wife at present appear quite happy— God grant they may always be so, I wish to see them happily & comfortably settle

I am extremely distresd <mutilated>y of my claims upon your attention, but the necessity I am under of collecting the sum due me from the estate oblidges me to address you again— enclosed you have your dft on Sheppard with its fate— he appears to have no wish to pay his debt untill perfectly convenient to himself— this will not suit me— I will if you are willing accept the whole amount of his debt and prosecute him for it immediately giving you security for the repayment of the balance[.]

Permit me this liberty of enclosing to you the Copy of an acceptance by the Executors of the late Genl Washington for one hundred and fifty Dollars which I have had a long time in my possession— more than once I have presented it to Mr Lewis & once to Mr Washington without the desired effect of payment. will you please to inform me if it will be agreeable to the Executors now to discharge this obligation, being very desirous to have it done. with great respect I am Sir your mst. Obed. Sevt

     Captain Hammond has expressed a desire for me, to take his share of the Kahnawa Land, that was Left to my Children at his death as I am placed in this business in a delicate situation it is my wish also Capt. Hammond's that you would be kind enough to give us your opinion what compansation he aught to receive for giving up his right to it. I should wish your opinion on the subject in Three ways, firs[t]. If Leased of him for his Life what I aught to pay per year secondly. If purchased what I augh[t] to pay, Thirdly.

In consequence of your note of the 8 June last, I have seen Mr Burwell Bassett, and delivered him the contract upon the authority of which I held the land the property of the late General Geo.

     I am favor'd with your Letter of To day.

     I am extremely troublesome to you regarding the Deed of Trust from Genl Lee— Your last Advertizement was not inserted in the papers owing to some Overture of Genl Lee's which I hoped would have rendered the Business unnecessary— It is in vain for me I believe to expect Relief except thro' a Sale of the property &ca. I must request you will be so good as to authorize me to insert the annex'd Advertisement— The sooner you can send it to me the better— I am Very Respy

     I have just received yours of the 2nd inclosing a statement of my a/c with the estate. I have to observe that as soon as my present crops can be gotten to market which form my entire resources the amount of balance shall be paid without fail— The present unhappy & distressing situation of Mr Fitzhughs family owing to the illness of Mrs F. prevents my going below at this time or I would endeavour to anticipate my crop— Be assured the produce of my Estates shall be appropriated to discharge this a/c as soon as possible. It might be well to have our Col.

J. Madison presents his respects to Judge Washington, and encloses the memorandum of Mr Taylor, with such additions as will give all the information necessary on the law stated by Judge Washington.

     As Mr R. B. Lee has informed me he cannot carry into effect the Proposition he was to make for acct of Genl Lee & as I see no prospect whatever of getting pa<y>ment but thro' a Sale of the Estate, I will thank you as soon as convenient to transmit the Advertizement. I would prefer your leaving the Day of Sale Blan<k> & I will fill it up‑Very Respectfully

     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

     Having endeavored in vain to obtain a Settlement with Genl Lee, I am again induced to trouble you to advertize that part of the Property deeded in Trust laying in Westmorland County known by the name of Hollis's Marsh the other property if this proves difficient may be hereafter advertiz'd, unless you think it more correct, to insert the whole at once.

     There will be due for Interest on the Bond next month 5500 Dolls. not 1 Shilling of Interest having been paid since the 17 Octr 99.