Mount Vernon, October 30, 1797. Sir: Your letter of the 21st instt. has been duly received, but ignorant as I am of the motive which has induced you to send me an extract of the Law of 1780 relative to recruits, for the Army, I know not what reply to make. Matters of that sort, I never had anything to do with, as Commander in Chief of the American Army; and never having speculated in any Soldiers certificate, or Rights of any kind or nature whatsoever, I am, perhaps as little competent to give an opinion thereon (if I understood your meaning) as any man in the United States. I am etc. To ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD [N.Y.P.L.] Mount Vernon, November 1, 1797. Dear Sir: I feel myself much obliged by your kind attention to my want of a Household Steward; but hearing of an excellent Housekeeper that had lived with Mr. R. Brooke whilst he was Governor of this State, she has been applied to for a similar purpose in this family, and we have reason to expect her, every day. Should this happen I shall have no occasion for a Steward. Indeed the two would be incompatible, and lay foundation for wrangling which might prove the loss perhaps of both, and to employ Rawlings *° as a Butler, merely, if he was ever so clever and competent at the business, would be too expensive. 40 I pray you to accept my thanks for the pains, and trouble you have had in this business; and be assured of the sincere regard etc. War. Formerly a captain in the First Virginia State regiment during the Revolutionary 40 Albin Rawlins(?). 1797] you A LAND EXCHANGE 59 P. S. Did think to examine the Records while in Richmond to see if there was any foundation for Thompson's (I think was the name) his claim to my Kentucky Land? The family here, all unite in offering their affectns. to Mrs. Spotswood and yr. family."1 *To DANIEL MCCARTY Mount Vernon, November 3, 1797. Sir: I shall preface this letter in answer to yours of yesterday, with a declaration as sincere as it is solemn, and that is, that if it was in my power, I would take no advantage of you in the proposed exchange of Lands; nor would I wish you to make a bargain with me that either you yourself, or your friends (such I mean as are competent judges) should hereafter say was disadvantageous on your part: for be assured, I should derive no pleasure from a contract of which you might have just cause to complain. Having made this declaration, it remains to be added, that both of us may err in the comparative value of our respective lands. You, perhaps, preceded upon what you conceive to be the present selling price of such lands as yours are, in this country; which, abstractedly is fair; but if I mistake not, Lands here are not only at a stand, but on the decline; while on the other hand, I go on a thorough conviction in my own mind, that such as I offer in exchange and which in some instances I know, and in all believe, are of the first rate, will increase. I form this opinion from analogous circumstances; for since I have been an Actor for myself, Frederick and Berkeley Counties were deemed much more remote, and in fact out of the inhabited world, than the Kanhawa is now: and lands which I then "From a transcript of the original in the National Library of Scotland at Edinburg. bought in the former at five pounds per hundred acres, and the highest (on account of small improvements) at twenty five pounds per hundd. I could now sell, very readily at five pounds an acre. But this is digressing from the point, and I will return to it again, after making one more observation which in my opinion, is literally true and important, namely, that it is not the number of acres you receive in exchange for your land, that is to render that exchange valuable, there are a great many local considerations which must contribute to this. I aver, most seriously, that I wd. not give my tract of 10,990 acres on the Kanhawa for 50,000 acres back of it, and adjoining thereto, nor for any 50,000 acres of the common land of the country, which I have seen, back from the water, and in one body. And I have no doubts but that the land immediately back of mine, might now be bought for half a dollar or less pr. acre which, and on acct. of the extensive range that cannot for a series of years be interrupted, renders these bottoms so extremely valuable. In offering you three of my tracts on the Kanhawa, containing together 12,276 acres for your Maryland tracts entire; I conceived I was by no means deficient in proposing an equivalent, especially, as these three tracts would have given you a boundary on the Rivers of near 25 miles of the richest low ground in that Ctry. It is true and so I informed you, that I had never been on either of these tracts, and have only the Surveyors report, and other information on which to form my opinion of the quality of the Land. They may be less, or they may be more valuable than the lower tract for ought I know to the contrary. Two reasons however, induced me to reserve the latter. Ist. a knowledge of the tract from my own inspection of it, and 2dly because it was the lowest on that River, and not more than 3 miles from Mount Pleasant. A Place which must, as soon as 1797] KANAWHA LAND 61 tranquillity is perfectly restored, be of considerable importance from its situation at the junction of two extensive Rivers running in different directions through so large and fertile a tract of country. This letter is written more with a view to exculpate myself from any suspicion which might arise of my not meaning to offer you an equivalent for your land, than from any expectation I entertain of our coming to a bargain; for it can hardly be supposed that I would allow the whole of my lands to be picked, whilst the most valuable part of yours (or your sons) is reserved. If however, upon reconsidering the matter you should be disposed to let the Island go with, and become part of the exchanged Lands, I will, on my part (as you have expressed a wish to make an exchange) consent to part with my lower tract on the Kanhawa also; and if there is any likelihood of our agreeing on a just proportion of quantity, and value of my land for yours, I would, on some early day which you may name (before the weather gets cold) ride up with you and your son (for I shd. like that he should be perfectly satisfied before hand, with whatever is done) and look at your Loudoun Lands; having at present not the least knowledge of the quality of them, neither from Investigation or information; and because, which I frankly declare to you previously that it is not a trifling consideration that will induce me to part with my lower tract on the Kanhawa with the situation, local advantages utility and value of which I have formed an opinion, not from information, but from my own accurate view; having been on it three or four days [illegible] of the bottom. Your answer to this letter will at once decide whether there be any prospect of our bargaining, or not; and I should thank you for giving it to me as soon as it is convenient. I am etc. [N. Y. P.L.] TO ROBERT LEWIS Mount Vernon, November 3, 1797. Dear Sir: Your letter of the 26th Ulto. has been received. To Mr. T. Whiting for presenting and to you for forwarding the orchard grass seeds, I feel myself obliged and request you to mention it to him accordingly. I approve of your placing a Tenant on my small Tract of Land above Bath at a moderate Rent for the purpose of preserving the Timber thereon: and if decisive proof could be had of the Trespasses I think suit should be brought against them in the District Court by way of terror to others. In this Court if the proof was positive justice might be expected, in the County Court I should expect nothing but to pay the Cost of the suit. I would not let the land for more than 5 years, limit the quantity of ground to be cleared and reserve all the walnut Timber for my use which may stand thereon. The other depredations mentioned in your letter will not I hope escape unpunished. Remember us to Mrs. Lewis and be assured of the friendship of Your etc.*2 *To BUSHROD WASHINGTON Mount Vernon, November 3, 1797. My dear Sir: Your letter of the 30th ult. was received by the last Post. Your Aunts distresses for want of a good housekeeper are such as to render the wages demanded by Mrs. Forbes (though unusually high) of no consideration; and we must, though very reluctantly, yield to the time she requires to prepare for her fixture here. We wish however that it might be shortned. "From the "Letter Book" copy in the Washington Papers. |