MERCER AFFAIRS

507

whenever it is convenient to you, and that with Complimts. to your good Mother I remain etc.

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*To JOHN TAYLOE

Mount Vernon, October 31, 1774.

Dear Sir: As I return'd late last Night from Philadelphia, It will not be in my power, with any sort of convenience, to attend the Assembly (in case of its setting, which, as I have heard nothing of the Governors return, seems doubtful) till after the Sale of Colo Mercers Estates; and therefore, as I can have no oppertunity of seeing you before, permit me to hope, and indeed press you, to be there, as many things may, and doubtless will happen, to render your advice and assistance absolutely necessary. In short, as the times are ticklish, I shall be very unwilling to take the whole burthen of this Trust upon myself, and to delay the Sale, after such long, and full notice of it, will be improper, and no doubt injurious. please to bring what Letters, and Papers you are possess'd of relative to this business, as I have not receivd a Letter, or heard a Tittle from Mr. Montagu, since that one Inclosing the Power of Attorney 18 Months ago. I am etc.87

*To JOHN TAYLOE

Shannondoah, November 30, 1774. Dear Sir: I was sorry to find by your favr. of the 16th. Instt. that I was not likely to receive any assistance from you in the Sale of Colo. Mercers Estate, and was equally concern'd at

"From a photostat of the original kindly furnished by Will B. Davis, of Washing

ton, D. C.

"From a photostat of the original kindly loaned by Mrs. J. Clayton Mitchell, of Lloyds, Va., through Dr. Josiah H. Penniman, provost of the University of Pennsylvania.

the cause of it. We closed the matter this day to the amount of £1412.0.2. which is a greater Sale than I expected, as there were only 90 instead of 110 Negroes, and a proportionate difficiency of Horses and stock; and few or no Plantation utensils; the Land in this County (that is Frederick) sold for much less than it was valued at in the year 1767; and yet, I do not think it sold much under the intrinsic worth, as there is a good deal of exceeding poor and broken ground in it. Colo. Mercer, and the Mortgagees, will, I doubt not, be a good deal surprized to find this Land valued at so much more in the year 1767 than it would sell for at this day; but there was no help for it; everything that could be done, was done, to dispose of it to the best advantage; in attempting which, I had three Lots of the Land (by endeavouring to raise them) left upon my hands. The Negros, Horses, and Stock, have all sold exceeding high; and we have done every thing in our powers to secure payment at the day; but yet I am far from expecting punctuallity, or even from thinking there may not be some Insolvency's, although I have taken every precaution in my power to get good Security to the respective Bonds.

In the purchase of Bills (when Cash is receivd for this purpose) every precaution, no doubt, will be taken to get those which are esteem'd good, but I will never, by any Indorsation of mine, make my Estate liable to be rent and torn to pieces, if they should prove otherwise. I return, inclosed, the Letters you sent me from Colo. Mercer; and with hopes, that you are by this, perfectly recovered, I am with, best respects to Mrs. Tayloe and the Family Dr Sir etc.88

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From a photostat of the original kindly loaned by Mrs. J. Clayton Mitchell, of Lloyds, Va., through Dr. Josiah H. Penniman, provost of the University of Pennsylvania.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

509

*MEMORANDUM FOR FIELDING LEWIS

April 30, 1775.

To receive and pay Money agreeable to the List and orders herewith furnished.

If Messrs. Balfour and Barraud should, contrary to all expectation neglect to pay me for my Flour, agreeable to contract, I shall be very much distress'd, as I must, at all events (if you even receive but as much Money) pay Mr. Brent, Mr. Mazzei and the £10 to the Treasurer. The other Sums must be the last paid.

I had, at the Meeting in Richmond, a Bill of Exchange from Mr. Thos. Newton drawn by Ingles & Long in favr. of one Wm. Hodgzard for £100 Sterlg. at 271⁄2 pr. Ct. Excha: but the Exchange was to be regulated at the April Meeting. if it should therefore, be under 271⁄2 please to receive the Difference.

The Bill you receivd from Colo. Syme, in June last for Colo. Fairfax, is come back. He promised at Richmond that he would endeavour to take it up this Meeting, please to remind him of it; the Bills are herewith sent.

If you should not have an Oppy. of seeing Mr. Jno. Armistead, speak to young Mr. Edd. Pendleton abt. my Claim on him on Acct. of his Fathers Estate and as Exr. to Colo. Baylor.

You will please to ask Mr. Walker if it be necessary for the Power of Attorney herewith sent to be recorded, if it is, in what manner it can be done, and put it into the hands of the most likely person to accomplish it in York, or James City Court. I imagine it will do in either.

If you should see any of Atthawess. Captns. in Williamsbg. please to inform them. or Athaws's. Agent there, that Colo. Fairfax has 6 Hhds of Tobo. at Colchester ready to be delivered when sent for. the Inspectors having Orders for this

purpose.

If you should see the Exrs. of Mr. Jno. Page, be so good as to try to get a fresh Bond with Security, if they do not Incline to discharge the old. I have not been used well in this affair. Mr. Page on Novr. 1773 ask'd me to lend him £300 Sterg. to complt., or make some very advantageous purchase of Land near, or adjoing. him; I assurd him very truely, that I had not a farthing of my own to lend, and that I did not care to part with Mr. Custis's. He press'd, and press'd again; assuring me that if I would draw for that Sum he would replace it in April. I told him, I had often refus'd very particular friends, who would take it amiss if I should grant to others, what had been refus'd them; but at last, on his solemn assurance of replacing the Money in a few Months, I consented to draw, and contrary to my expectation he gave me a Bond without any Security, because he would not, he said, let it be known that I had lent the Money. In April I heard nothing abt. the return of the Money, and before October he died; so that, if his Affairs (as I have been told they are) should be in a bad way, the Money stands unsecured; which is the reason of my giving you the trouble to call upon the Exrs. for a fresh Bond at this time.

Please to contrive Mr. Armisteads Letter to him before, or as you go down, as I believe he is seldom in Wmsburg himself.

*To THE FAIRFAX COUNTY COMMITTEE

[H.L.]

Philadelphia, May 16, 1775.

Gentn: If I could have communicated any thing by the last Post certain and satisfactory, I should most assuredly have done it agreeable to my promise, but the only articles of Intelligence which came to my hands were containd in the Gazetees, and went regularly to you. This is pretty much the case at present, and leaves me little to add, as the Congress are again under the

CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

511

Tye of Secrecy in respect to their proceedings till the business is finished, or particular parts of it published by order; the principal design therefore of my writing to you at this time, and under these circumstances is, to recommend strongly, in case a Convention of the Virga. Delegates should be calld (as the Treasurer has been advis'd to do) in my absence, that some other person may be chosen Pro: tem to serve in my Room;" in order that, the County may, at this important Crisis, be fully represented; the necessity of a full, and able Representation at such a juncture as this, must be too obvious to need a Comment, or words to enforce the recommendation.

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We have a very full Congress, and I flatter myself that great unanimity will prevail among the Members of it. The Colony of New York is said, not only to be hearty, but zealous in the cause. I wish, and I hope it may be so, but, as I never your

entertaind a very high opinion of sudden repentances, I will suspend my opinion till the arrival of the Troops there.

The Provencial Congress of the Massachusetts bay have voted 13,600 Men, the other Governments of New Engd. have followed their example in proportionate numbers, and the Troops at Boston are confind within the Neck by about 9000 of them, Intrenchd, by which means all Communication between the Town and Country is cut off, and the Army and Inhabitants of Boston, it is said, somewhat distressed for Provisions. We have no late Accts. from thence; but it is supposed Genl. Gage will keep close till he receives his reinforcemt., to consist, our Accts. says of abt. 2000 Men and to be expected the last of this month. What he will then do, time only can tell. The Depositions taken after the Action at Lexington I inclose you, when oppy. offers please to forwd. a Copy or two into the back Counties.

As Mr. Milnor has just given notice that he shall set out at One clock this day instead of tomorrow (as I expected) I am