out, that I was too low down the Branch; for that you struck it at the lower end of a small meadow thereon.

From this place until I came to Difficult run again, I could discover neither line tree nor corner, and the only person with me (William Shepherd) who had it in his power to give correct information had views quite incompatible therewith; and to mislead and deceive, were the sole objects of his attendance: for when, in running the course from the Bridge branch, it was found that I was crossing the Road lower down than all present expected; and it was declared as the invariable belief of the neighbours, that Tankerville's line and mine on this course were the same, and had always been so considered, he said No! adding, that part of a tract of 12,000 Acres belonging to the late Thos. Lord Fairfax had a narrow gore running up between them; and when it was observed that this could not well be, and that, if Tankerville's line here, and mine were not the same, that the land between must be vacant, and in that case that I shd enter it as waste; it eked out, by degrees, that he had been prying into these lines, and either had, or meant to secure this vacancy (if it be one) to himself; and that, to deceive until it could be accomplished, was all he was aiming at.

I have been thus particular in my statement of this matter to you, my good Sir, because I am about to ask, if you have any recollection, or knowledge, of these lines, or the circumstances attending them, that you would be so obliging as to furnish me therewith, particularly, as it may respect the corner on, or near, the Bridge branch; and the course from thence; and whether the understanding at the time you Survey Tankerville's was, or was not, that mine joined it on the courses just mentioned. In short, if you have the Survey of Tankerville's land by you and see no impropriety in the measure, I would thank you for letting Mr. Rawlins have a copy thereof; in aid

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other information you may be so good as to give; as I dislike very much the disingenuous conduct and concealment of Mr. Shepherd in this business; and, as far as Justice in it will support me shall endeavour to defeat his views. With

esteem etc.

*To WILLIAM PRICE

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Mount Vernon, November 20, 1799. Sir: Your favour of the 15th instant, in answer to my letters of the 7th and 8th, addressed to the Surveyor General of the Land Office (wch. proves the necessity there was for my plea of ignorance) came duly to hand; with the Land Office Treasury Warrants; for your obliging attention to which, I pray you to accept my thanks.

Perceiving by your letter that Willm Shepherd has made a Survey, and returned it to your Office, similar in some respects to my proposed Entry; and believing that it must have been done unknowing to those who have lands adjoining, and comprehends Lands always reputed to be mine; and so understood by all the neighbourhood thereabts; I request the favour of you to furnish me with a copy of the Survey and Plat, that I may be enabled thereby to investigate the matter more fully. Until which, I must beg that this letter may be considered as a Caveat against a Grant thereof to Wm. Shepherd.

If the rules and Proceedings in your Office require a more formal protest against such issue, I must rely on your goodness to advise me; for having had very little to do with the local Laws of the State since the Revolution, and not having those passed since that period by me, I may be mistaken in this, as in my former application.

T Registrar of the Virginia Land Office.

Enclosed is a five dollar Bill; if it be insufficient to cover the Expence of the Land Warrant, Copy of the Shepherd's Survey, and the Protest against a Grant issuing thereon, you will please to advise.

As another proof of my unacquaintedness in this business, my expectation was, that the Entry I proposed to make would have covered all the land within the described location; but the Warrant fixed it, I perceive, to 100 acres only. It may be more, or it may be less; and cannot be ascertained until the Survey is made. I should not like to be fixed to the above quantity, if the vacant land exceeds it. I am etc.

*To SAMUEL SOMMERS

[N.Y.P.L.]

Mount Vernon, November 20, 1799.

Sir: In consequence of your letter, and the information of Mr. Rawlins, I sent to Richmond and obtained the enclosed warrant; with which (in the absence of Colo. Payne) I pray you to do what will be necessary to give it legal and proper effect and advise me thereof by a line lodged in the Post Office as the most certain mode of getting it to hand.

You will perceive that the Warrant is for 100 Acres only, this has proceeded from my mistake in saying, I believed the vacancy would not exceed this quantity; but my intention in the Entry was to cover all the waste land within the limits I had described, be it more or less, and if the location cannot comprehend this I shall be disappointed and ask your advice and assistance to correct it.

It appears from the Registers letter, which accompanied the Warrant that Mr. William Shepherd has made, and returned a Survey to that Office which bears some similitude to my Entry, I would ask the favour of you, therefore to examine the Surveyors Books to see at what time it was made and whether, in your

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435

judgment it is the identical Land I have been aiming to obtain. Mr. Shepherds conduct while I was employed in Surveying my land on Difficult was so full of concealment and deception that I have not, nor shall not place any confidence in any thing he may say respecting the premises. For if he has made a Survey of this vacancy it was done unknowingly to the neighbourhood thereabouts; who, one and all (whom I saw) expressed a belief that Tankervilles Line and mine, between which the vacancy is now supposed to lye, were the same, and was so understood by them all, and Mr. Jno. Moss who formerly lived on Tankerville's land, and whom I have lately seen declares the same. With esteem I am etc.

P. S. I have written to Colo. [Payne] also for informatn on this subject. but request no delay on that account.

*To WILLIAM THORNTON

[N.Y.P.L.]

Mount Vernon, November 20, 1799.

Dear Sir: When I wrote to you the other day, I expected to have settled matters with the Bk of Alexandria so as to have been enabled to have sent you, for Mr Blagdens use, a check thereon for $1000. But not being well enough acquainted with the rules of the Bank, I suffered what are called discount days, to pass over before I applied; for which reason the business there must remain over until after Tuesday of next week.

But, if to do this will be attended with any inconvenience to Mr Blagden, and he will be at the trouble of riding, or sending any person down here, competent to receive the money, Mr Lewis, who has it by him, will lend me that sum, and it shall be paid. Of this I would thank you for informing Mr Blagden. With esteem etc."

79

"From the Thornton Papers in the Library of Congress.

*To BENJAMIN GOODHUE

Mount Vernon, November 22, 1799.

Dear Sir: Your favour of the 3d. of Octr. never came to my hands until last night. On hearing that Captn. Hammond had arrived at Alexandria, I shall send up for the Fish and send him the cost of them, nine dollars.

For your kind recollection of my wanting of this article, I thank you. They came very opportunely, and just as I was thinking of writing to you for a fresh supply.

Without expressing any opinion with respect to the Embassy which Sailed from this Country; I will hope for the best: Being among those who believes that Providence after its numberless favours toward us, will still continue an outstretched arm to help, and deliver us from the evils with which we have been, and continue to be, assailed.

With very great esteem etc.

*To HEPBURN & DUNDAS

[N.Y.P.L.]

Mount Vernon, November 23, 1799. Gentlemen: Your letter of the 19th. was recd. yesterday. If my attendance at Mr. Heiskill's in Alexandria on the 26th. could render you any real Service, I would do it with pleasure.

But all that I could relate would be hearsay whilst means exist, to obtain (I presume) positive proofs of the facts you wish to establish.

With respect to the division of the tract, of (what you call) 51,302 acres, I am as ignorant as any man whom you might pick up, by chance in the Streets of Alexandria.

I believe, Mr. Jno. West, deceased, was one of the Patentees in the large Survey at the Mo. of the Great Kanhawa; but to