E[ncl]osed you have an attested Copy of the Notice give[n] Weston, <mutilated> be pleased to request of the District-Court of De<mutilated> award of Commissioners with Liberty to either of the Parties o<mutilated> Notice to claim a Dedimus for taking Evidence in Philada and <mutilated> otherwise I fear I shall never come at tryal.
After encountering a number of disappointments I have arrived here— I found that Coll Harry Lee could not accomodate me with a conveyance to Court— I then had hopes of getting my Brothers Phaeton, but unfortunately found my Sister from home and the Phaeton broke— at length getting here, I shall get a driver & two horses from Mr Turbervilles— I have borrowed a Saddle & Bridle from Mr George Turberville to get Lewis as fare as Haywood, and have to request of my friend Mr Washington to lend Lewis an old saddle & Bridle up to Colo.
Fickleness is not only always distressing the mind of the Man it attacks; but is often, in its consequences, exceedingly distructive to his circumstances; both of these I have experienced in some degree in my late attempt to move my Family to Berkley, which I declined merely to satisfy a few worthy Friends in this neighbourhood. Expecting to move off in a month or two, I sold some of my property that I cannot well do without now, and consequently my Family will be subjected to many disagreeable inconveniences.
The enclosed I got at the post Office yesterday, having seen it before advertised knowing the Land I took the liberty of opening it. I wish the delay of it may not be inconvenient to You.
Enclosed you have Thos Oliver’s (of Dumfries) Note pa<i>d to Doctor Gerardus Clarkson and dated Philada June 5th 1784, where th<e> interest of Money is C$PRCt— Also a Lre to you and nine Dollars in bank Notes from Saml Clarkson one of the Administrators to the afore. <Ger>ardus his father now deceased.
I am extremely sorry for the cause which has prevented our meeting so early as I wished— I have been much disappointed, but concluded that you were sick, being too well assured of your honor to suppose that our agreement had escaped your memory. I shall be very happy to hear that you are on the recovery.
I find that I have so fully investigated the Subject of the lost Pier, that I cannot add any thing for illustration to the Papers denominated "Statement of incontrovertible Facts, strictures relating to a Pier—and suggestion respecting the Pier—Since they were written I have investigated the Causes of the fate of said Pier and my sentiments have been confirmed by Thomas Davis an Thomas Connavor Simon of Philadelphia, and Jesse Hollingsworth of Baltimore by Prontin having built several, they will each Prove that the defects in Workmanship as well as principle rendered
I Recieved a Letter from my Brother a few days past, enclosing one to you on the same subject with his first, requesting me to forward it, unless I had recieved an answer to his other, which he was apprehensive had miscarryed. I put his second into the Post office and a few days afterwards, had the pleasure to recieve your favour of the 16th Inst. I have mentioned this circumstance in order to account for my Brother's having troubled you with two Letters on that subject.
The enclosed is in answer to a letter I have just received from your Brother. It goes unsealed that you may aid it with your own opinion and advice or by searching among my Papers as directed for any thing that may be serviceable. Mrs Washington joins me in love to yourself & Nancy—and I am Your Affecte friend & Uncle
Among the first acts of my recommencing business (after lying six weeks on my right side) is that of writing you this letter in acknowledgement of yours of the [<2m#>] ultimo— Not being fairly on my seat yet, or in other words not being able to sit up without feeling some uneasiness, it must be short.
Having lately heard, that the appointment of the officers of the federal court will be vested in the judges, I take the liberty of asking your opinion, whether it would be worth my while to solicit the office of attorney in the federal court of this State, and for your advice about the most proper mode of making application. If this office has been thought of by others, my chance may be destroyed, not only by prior candidates, but by superior merit; and in that case it would be both prudent and honest in me to decline.
I Rec'd your Letter Hond & D Madam by Mr Buckner yesterday, I am happy to hear by him that you are now in a good state of health— I discover from your sentiments that you are contented, & your Son most ardently hopes Happy.
It is so with me that my pasture have crops of Wheat or Oats within the fences that prevents my havig the free use of them until after Harvest, this will oblige me to put your Horse within an Inclosure where he may, if he is a jumper pester me there being Grass ground for Mowg where the fence is not very sufficient adjoing, yet I coud not think of sendg him back to you— When I see Mjr Washington I shall tell him he shoud furnish you with pasture they havig great Quantitys of Land inclosed for that purpose I shall make no charge while the Horse is with me & I presu
I must beg your Excuse for having so long neglected to execute the little Commission for Mrs Washington. It was some time before Mr Powel received your Letter & I have since that been much indisposed with a Fever & Pain in my Head & Breast— On Enquiry I find that some very handsome white Furr is to be purchased—but as the Season is very far advanced I would reccommend it to your Lady to defer getting it till the Autumn. The Furriers understand preserving it from the Moth much better than Ladies.
I was very sorry that Business at Court obliging me to be in Town on Monday last, prevented me from calling at Mount Vernon on my way up. since then I have been, & I suppose shall continue to be under the necessity of attending Court all the week; should you not leave Home before Sunday, I shall on that day wait on you.
I was not at home when your Letter arrived yesterday, or Should then have thanked you, as I now sincerely do, for your kind offer— previous to the rect of it, I had rented an office of Mr Watson, at the exorbitant price of £15. Your Stable I will put into repair & make use of until you may want it. I very readily accept your offer of Hay, as it is both difficult to procur[e] it, Here, and when got comes very dear. Wishing you health & happiness— I am with Love to my Aunt Dr Uncle Your very affect. Nephew
The Man who lives in my House in Town is there, I am told, on curtesy; and was only to have a reasonable previous notice to remove— Under these circumstances, if you can make the House and Stable (for of the latter there was once a very good one) convenient for your purposes, you shall be welcome to the use of them. This lott was once, well inclosed, but has no fence I believe at present; otherwise, as you talked of a Garden, it would make a very good one, as the ground has a good exposure.
I take this opportunity by Mr Packet (who goes up with my furniture) to return you my very grateful thanks for the offer you were pleased to make me of your House, rent free.
Mr Packet handed me your lettr of the 20th— In one thing my sentiments perfectly coincide with your own— and that is, to manage our Virginia Estates well there cannot be a divided attention— for with all the attention that can be bestowed, they are seldom productive.
From a variety of reasons which have for some time past operated upon my mind, It has become in my Judgment necessary for me to remove from this part of the Country, and to fix in some Town. my inclination leads me towards Alexandria whether I shall act with prudence and wisdom in this change of Situation, I can only determine from the force of those reasons upon my mind, which have principally influenced it.
Your letter of the 9th came to my hand last night. What the abilities of my deceased brother Samls Estate towards paying his debts, may be, I am unable to say; but I much fear that the management of it is in very bad hands; as the hours of your Uncle Charles are—I have reason to believe—spent in intoxication. This circumstance, added to a natural indolence, leaves too much to the Steward to expect industry and fair dealing; unless he differs widely from the generallity of his class.
As an Executor to my Father, I am involved in an affair which has given me much concern, and which is likely to afford me some trouble, and as it is difficult for me to determine in what manner to act, I take the liberty of asking your advice, and as fare as you can give it, your assistance. Doctor Stewart as administrator to Mr Custice had a Bond agt my uncle Sam, which was very nearly out of date, and rendered it necessary for him either to commence suit immediately, or to have it renewed.
The convention has hitherto made a very slow progress towards finishing the business before them, and leads me to apprehend, that we shall be detained here much longer than I at first expected. We have determined to go through the constitution clause by clause, before any question shall be put. This regulation, if attended to, would expedite the business, by confining us to the particular parts objected to. But the debates have hitherto been general and desultory, although we have proceeded no farther than the third section of the first clause.
I engag'd to pay Mr Giles, at the approaching Convent<io>n 32½ Guineas, b<u>t if I recollect right, you were so obliging as to promise to settle that Debt for me and to allow me a more convenient Time to repay it. On this Subject, however, we were not explicit, and I must therefore request an Answer to t<hi>s Letter.