1798]

PARKINSON'S ARRIVAL

7

The contents of this letter have surprised me; and that you may know from whence this surprise has proceeded, I shall lodge in your hands (as I am going from home, and may be absent four or five weeks) Mr. Parkinsons first and second letters to me; and my answer to him; (a duplicate, and I think a triplicate of which I forwarded).

By this correspondence you will perceive that, Mr. Parkinson, through the medium of Sir Jno Sinclair, had seen the Plans of my Mount Vernon Farms, and was acquainted with the terms on which they were to be let. These terms I also deposit with you. It appears moreover by his first letter, dated the 28th. of Augt. 1797, that he intended to be in this Country in the month of March; and by his second letter of the 27th. of Septr. following, that his arrival might be delayed until April or May. It is evident also, from the tenor of these letters that he knew my farms could not remain uningaged longer than the month of September. Yet, he neither comes; sends an Agent to act for him; nor even writes a line, to account for the delay; and to know on what footing his former proposition stood.

Under these circumstances, I had no more expectation of Mr. Parkinson's arrival (especially with such a costly Cargo as he represents) than I had of seeing Sir Jno. Sinclair himself, until his letter of the 28th. of August from Liverpool came to hand.

Nor under the circumstances I have detailed, (which will appear correct from the papers I leave) do I know what Mr. Parkinsons views now are. He surely could not expect, after having placed the Occupancy of one of my farms on a contingency, that is, his liking it upon an examination thereof; after promissing that this examination should take place by the month of May last; after letting me hear nothing more from him for a whole year; and after knowing that I was obliged to

make arrangements for the ensuing year by the month of September in the present year, to find a farm ready for his reception in Novr.

If he did not expect this, Mr. Parkinson stands in no other relation to me, than he does to any other Gentleman in this Country; and if he did expect it, it may with justice be observed, that, he has done so unwarranted by the information that was given him, and has entered upon the measure precipitately, having made no adequate provision for the heavy expence he is running into. But, as matters are circumstances, the question now, is not what ought to have been, but what can be done to serve him.

With respect to my paying £850 for the freight of the Vessel, it is beside the question altogether, for the best of all reasons, viz, because I have not the means. And with respect to the animals which are said to be embarked, I would put myself to greater, or less inconvenience in providing for them (upon just and reasonable terms) according to what shall appear to be his intention with respect to my River Farm. If it be to lease It on the terms which have been proposed. If there is a prospect of my being secure in letting it; and a prospect that the bargain will be durable; and lastly, if you can devise any expedient by which the business can be accomplished under existing circumstances, as they respect the coming and the going Overseers; the Negroes; Stock; and growing grain; I should be well disposed to lend all the aid in my power towards the temporary accomodation of the animals he has brought over. Except the Stallions, for whom, and more especially for their Keepers (who are generally very troublesome people) I have no conveniency at any of the Farms, and to suffer them to be in the Barns, or Stables with their horses, would be to risk the whole by fire. Nor have

1798]

JOURNEY TO TRENTON

9

I any place at the Mansion house for either horses or men, as the conveniences thereat, are not more than adequate to the permanent, and occasional demands by visiters.

In a word, under the present aspect of things; and without seeing Mr Parkinson or knowing under what auspices he comes, I scarcely know what sentiment to express respecting him; or what is proper to be done in this business; and therefore must leave it to you to form an opinion when you can take a nearer view of the subject, after his arrival, if this shd. happen during my absence, and act accordingly. To obtain a good tenant for River Farm, on just terms; with the prospects before mentioned, wd. be an inducement to me to go great lengths in a temporary accomodation: but if this is not to be expected from Mr. Parkinson, I feel no obligation on my part, to rectify mistakes which I had no hand in causing, and endeavoured to guard against. I remain etc.*

*To MAJOR GENERAL HENRY LEE

Mount Vernon, November 4, 1798.

Dear Sir: Your letters from Fredericksburgh and Stratford, have both been received; and their contents will be attended to when the list of applications come under consideration.

Tomorrow (being requested thereto by the Secretary of War) I shall set off for Trenton. This, of course, will deprive me of the pleasure of seeing you, while you are on the promised visit to this County. It is necessary therefore I shd. inform you that, no report (as indeed I expected would be the case) has been made by Mr. Jesse Simms relative to Major Harrisons Land, adjoining my mill. And that, to my surprise, when I came to

'From a photostat of the original in Cornell University Library.

examine the details of your City property, more attentively than it was in my power to do, in the hurried manner in wch the list of it was presented, and to make enquiry into the value thereof, I found that instead of lots of the Standard size (as I took it for granted they were) that each of those lying on Pennsylvania Avenue have been split into two parts (having only 25 feet front to them) and for these half lots, that I am asked more than lots equally convenient sell at. To receive payments on such terms, when my object was solely to accomodate you, could hardly be expected.

If you are disposed to part with your land near Harpers Ferry; Your land in Loudoun; any unincumbered property in the City; or, in short, almost any other that can be rendered productive, at a reasonable valuation by disinterested men of good character, I would accept it in payment rather than make difficulties, or be involved in disputes; although you well know that nothing will answer my purposes like the money, of which I am in extreme want, and must obtain on disadvantageous terms. But it is not to be expected from hence that I will receive the former at an arbitrary price, which every well informed person knows it cannot command.

The Deeds which passed between you and me in the Month of April last, I sent to Mr. Bushrod Washington to have recorded; asking him at the sametime if they were not defective in proper recitals? Enclosed, or rather with this letter, Mr. Anderson will, when he hears of your being in Alexandria present you with his opinion thereon, with a Deed ready drawn, according to my Nephews directions for your signature. The one from me to you, I have acknowledged before Evidences, and request you will do the same by that from you to me. With great esteem etc.

1798]

A RENTAL

11

*To WILLIAM B. HARRISON'

Mount Vernon, November 4, 1798.

Sir: It has often been in my mind to ask, (if your tenements near my Mill are not under leases already) whether you would be inclined to let them to me, for a term of years? for what term? and at what Rent?

I can assure you, most sincerely and candidly, that it is not because I want these tenements, that I make this enquiry; but to be relieved from Neighbours who are really a nuisance: and who could not live on the Land but by the practice of unjustifiable shifts. No care or attention within the compass of my power to use, can preserve my fields and Meadows from injuries, sustained by their Hogs, and other Stock. Rails are drawn from the Posts, in order to let in the latter, and slips made to admit the former, in many places through my ditches, to the destruction of my grain, and grass.

To guard against damages of this sort, is, I do aver, my sole inducement to this enquery. But it is not to be infered from hence, that I am disposed to pay a Rent disproportioned to the real value of the Tenements.

I need not to observe to you, Sir, that the land was originally poor; that it is exhausted beyond measure; that there is no timber on it; very little firing; and scarcely any Fencing. In short, that without aid from the adjacent Lands, which the tenants cannot obtain from the present Proprietors by fair means, the tenements cannot be supported much longer. This is a fair statement, and ought to be taken into consideration in fixing the Rent.

"Of Leesburg, Va.