Since my last, I have had a conversation with Majr Lewis, upon the proposition which you made relative to the sale of R Hall. We are both anxious to swell the piece of the property to a sum at least sufficient to cover our whole demand, not only on account of Colo. Lees estate but to render unnecessary our application to the Chancellor to subject that estate to the payment of the deficiency.

     I send you Mr Lees letter Just recd by express, & will thank you after you have considered it, to inform me your opinion. Mr Alexander is entitled to no favor from us; but it may be a serious question whether the interest of ourselves & of those we represent will not be promoted by yielding to the proposition which is made or something like it?

     I send you Circulars for the Legatees, to which, if approved, you will affix your Signature, Direct & forward them. So far as I can recollect the names of the Legatees to whom letters need be sent I will state them below—

     Mr Aug. Washingtons heirs—

If Richard does not pay you $365.51 before the 7th inst you may on any day after that draw a check on the Bank of Potomack for that Amt to enable you to pay the two claims agt the Generals estate. Richard has the Acct you sent me.

I highly approve of your plan for the future settlement of the free negroes.

I write in great haste, but hope in a fortnight to return home & then to see you. Affectly yrs

I fear the Kentucky Lands are irretrievably gone; & I think we had better go to no further expence about them. I will however inquire of Judge Tod if Banks' deeds were recorded in time by the Laws of Kentucky.

Whilst I was in the City Mr Key called upon me, & upon my informing him that it was our wish to sell the City property, he stated that he had no doubt that he could obtain at least $10,000 for it, which he would endeavour to do if we would write him to that effect. In that case, he would have the money paid into Court & then get an order for paying it over to us so as to render any bond from you unecessary. I am clearly of opinion that this will be our best plan, & if you concur in it, I will write Mr Key accordingly. I am Dear Sir Affectly yrs

I cant make off a correct statement of Colo. Washingtons account without knowing the amount of my order on your brother Robert in favor of the Colo., as I sent him a blank one to fill up with such a sum as would make $8000 in all. Will you write to your brother & enquire the precise sum? I should suppose from the Copy of one of my letters it was $157.14 which with Mr Parks debt $4537.86 & Rusts bonds $3305 principal make exactly $8000.

The bearer will deliver you a letter from my nephews in which they propose renting Rockhall another year provided the parties concerned will consent to take a share of the Crop. I think they would be imprudent to keep it on any other terms, and I am of opinion that it will be best for us to accede to their proposition. They are both of them industrious & they have an excellent overseer to manage for them. I have written to them to this effect provided you & Mr. Alexander consent. I am dear Sir very sincerely yrs

We have sent a servant down expressly <mutilated> the other gentlemen of whom we rent <mutilated> to inform them how very difficult it will <mutilated> a monied rent for this place the next <mutilated>d out public affairs continue in the <mutilated>ttled & precarious state they are at <mutilated>hould like to rent this place for the next <mutilated> can agree upon the terms.

     Your printed circular letter of the 2d of the present month, was not receiv'd until within a few days past, or it should have been sooner attended to. The reasons offerd in that letter are sufficiently cogent to induce us without hesitation to give our assent that you should be vested with full powers to dismiss the suit against the representatives of Col. Lee, provided the land in question can be sold at $25 per acre, one half to be paid in hand the balance in three equal annual payments, the purchaseer giveing bond with approved security.

     Genl Lee has written again to me for his bond & contract together with a statement of the payments made by him. Let me beg you to make another search for the bond & contract, & if not amongst your papers, be so good as to ride down to Mt Vernon & search among mine. There is one bundle endorsed "Dismal swamp papers" in which they may possibly be found, tho I think I have searched them myself. My nephew John will assist you. The Generals papers are in a long box in my study.

     The County Court of Fairfax has appointed Mr Moore to settle our executors accounts, and he will attend us h<mutilated> any time we wish. I wish it were possible that we <c>ould have a meeting previous to this business being taken up by the Commr in order to agree upon a mode of stating & in fact to state the general account. I am prevented by company from going to your house which I intended to do as soon as it should be in my power. Suppose you come down someday next week and dine with us, and let us devote the morning to this business.

     yours of the 13th inst. is recd. I take this early opportunity, to give my consent, to your acceptance, of Genl Lee's proposition, (as detailed in your letter) respecting the dismal swamp property, he purchased, of the late Genl Geo. Washington. I am satisfied, the interests of the legatees will be promoted thereby, & consequently, approbate the course, you wish to pursue. I am Gentn with respect &c.

Mr Gardner, who has been owing me money for some time has offered me an order upon you for the amount which I accept without difficulty, & non mention it, not with a view of asking payment, but for the purpose of notice to you. You will consult your own convenience as to time. Will you have the goodness to send me your account for bricks & glass furnished, charging the former at $6 the price at which I purchased a large quantity in Alexa—Gardner's order is for $130.55.

I will thank you to send me the answer I drew to the bill in chancery brought agt Ashton & us, as I wish to alter it so as to state the accounts of the legatees, more specially in order to draw from the Court the principle on which all the accounts shall be settled.

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.

It may be proper to send the enclosed letter to the gentleman who may be applied to to bring the suit agt Saml Washington. I am very uneasy about the taxes due on our Kenhawa & ohio lands lest they may be forfeited & wish you could come up at once that we may consult on the proper steps to be taken. We have only till the first of March to save them. In haste yrs sincerely

     I cant find Mr Marshall rect but have written to him to send you another immediately. I am pretty sure I took one & could find it if I was less hurried. I have found Shephards letter of the 30th June to me with the rect to you, which I enclose you together with his last letter to me, that you may know how to pay the taxes. Please preserve these letters, as they will be very useful in future.

     Mr Riddle is offer'd $600, or the Vessel alone, in good negotiable paper at 3,629 months, which I wd have authorised him to take, if I knew with certainty that you had made no contract with Keene. The Man who makes the offer demands an immediate answer; I have requested Riddle to call upon him & promise him one by 10 <o'cl>ock tomorrow. I shall order Jerry to carry this letter to you tonight, and will thank you to write to Riddle & send the letter so as to reach him before the time I have fixed.

     Mr Ashton has enclosed me a power of Atty from his Sister Ann Ashton & requested the 4th part of a Share of the property sold to which She is entitled, to be sent to him. I have made an acct from your book of what she is entitled to of the Sales of the Columbia bank shares & dividends recd by you, as also his 4th part of the same, & also their Share of the Difficult run land & her share of the U.S. Stock, which you will see enclosed in the letter to him, with a rect on the back for him to Sign. I also send one check in my own name for the U.S.

     I recieved from Mr Hare some time ago the enclosed account. I[f] recollected it may be well to send on the mony by me when I go to Philada. Mr Chs Lee gave me an opinion respecting some points on which doubts arose concerning Mrs Washington's claim to rents & interest not due at the time of the General's death. You will please to enquire what his fee is & pay it.