Arthur Lee to William Lee

. . . Once more I must propose to you the plan of selling all your property in this Country, & for the following reasons, which are now abundantly more powerful than ever the reasons for this measure were formerly - In the first place you may rely upon it that the Western people will soon force a removal of the Seat of Government, in which case, the quality of these lands being but very indifferent, your interest here will be depreciated some hundred per cent - But this is not all, we have now began from the necessity of the case to impose extensive Taxes - And the mode adopted is an assessment of Lands, Slaves of all Ages, Cattle, Horses &c. &c. &c. - The excessive quantity of paper currency in circulation has raised the value of everything 4 or 5 hundred per Cent above its natural Standard - In this unnatural tumid State of things, & the contiguity of this Estate to the Seat of government, the Assessed value of your estate will be exceeding great & the ½ per cent Tax upon the whole will call for an annual large sum. Should the Seat of government be removed, I verily believe there would with good management, not be much more made than would discharge the Annual Tax. My plan then is, to take advantage of the present inordinate value of things, sell the whole & as it will produce a very large sum put it immediately into the Continental Loan Office where it will draw six per Cent paid in draughts on France at 5 livres money of France for every dollar of interest. You will have ½ per Cent tax to pay on this, & when the Taxes by lessening the quantity of money shall have restored its value, you will then remained possessed of the large sum at interest which the present advanced rates would produce - Nor would any injury be risked from the removal of the Seat of Government. If the American cause succeeds this Bank will be infallibly secure, if the cause fails, neither Bank nor Land will avail you - But then this plan if adopted, should be quickly put in practice, & proper powers signed by Mrs. Lee & yourself sent over. I think the act passed for this purpose under the new Government makes three witnesses necessary and that the Feme be privily examined by a Magistrate of the place & the whole authenticated by the Seal of the Corporation where the parties reside. - Against this I think the only objection is the parting with the Negroes, upon principles of humanity, but a few of the oldest & best Servants may be kept & placed in good families until they may be wanted - Heareafter money will rise in value & land fall, so that if it be necessary, other & better lands may be purchased for less than what these will now fetch.¹

The Letter is long. Approves of yr. manager. Encloses a letter Invoice from the Squire & a Bill to him on you by Dolman for £200. Jn. Ellis yr. Manager writes you that he has been on the Estate 16 months - shall clear £400 after clothing the negroes whom he found naked, has made but 8 or 9 hhds tobo. Desires you will send him 2 doz pr. good Cards one of each kind & Blankets for the People, it will do. Salt also is wanted. On his own Acct. he desires 1 pce Linnen at 2/6yd., 21 yds. Comn. Cambric Strong Cloth to make a great Coat. 10 papers of pins & 500 needles. List of negroes old & young 151 -

. . . Letter from J. Mills, "Willb. Mar. 28. has received yr. Acct. Sales, Ballance in his hand Col. Mason refusd to receive it, as he had drawn on you But R. H. L. letter says that is settld wh ye Col. who desire his balance may remain in yr. hand. Desires yr. advice about gettg property to France. Thinks he ordered the proceeds of Tobco. shipt to Griffith Eden & Co to be pd. to you, asks if you recd it."