Richard Henry Lee to William Lee

An opportunity is presented from N. Potomack and I embrace it to answer your favor by Dr. Jones. Loudon and myself were lately at Green Spring, where we called in our way from Williamsburg, whither we were carried to defeat a North British scheme for the abolition of the Association. We effected our purpose, and now, this matter is not again to be considered until next June Oyer court. Wilkison remains at Green Spring another year, and he intends to settle the Quarter/now vacated by the withdrawing Mr. Paradises people/with six hands, the best to be spared from among the house servants who are very numerous. We have directed the sale of the horses, and fixed upon the entire dropping of Powhatan mill. But a mill being exceedingly necessary to supply such numbers as belong to the estate, we desired Wilkison to get about building a new one upon a stream strongly recommended by him as sufficient for the purpose, and liable to none of the many objections which attend the Powhatan Mill. I have applied to the Treasurer to have this matter considered by the Trustees, and a proper allowance made, before they finally quit their administration of the personals yet remaining in their hands to be divided. You have now settled five plantations including G. Spring, and they are work d with 57 Slaves. The whole number of the grown people being 80, and the number of both old and young 153. The land, as I wrote you before, is generally good for corn, but with out dung, will not much of it produce Tobacco; and from the best information I can get, I suppose, that not more than a seventh part of the whole land is cleared. One of the old arguments prevails again this year, and as I find you are to get not more than 27 hhds of Tobo. from so many Workers. As the Adventurer John Ballandine used to say I fear they will not "clear their teeth." The crop of corn is middling. Our brother Frank and myself have considered your objections, and remain unshaken in our opinion touching the propriety of selling. Meeting with a purchaser for the land would undoubtedly be the most difficult part of the business. But we would not propose hurrying that matter, resting contended with renting contended with renting out the cleared plantations, which would do more than defray every expence that the whole gives rise to. And let it be of standing publication, that you will sell to any person, both lands, and houses in Williamsburg, in the whole, or by parcels, whensoever Purchasers offer for the whole a reasonable price. It remains only to be considered, how the sale of the Negroes may answer. Estimating the sum they would produce at £6000. is far from being unreasonable, which with the Stocks and Utensils, would raise the whole to a principal, that by its interests alone, will be found upon a fair average calculation of 6 or 7 years to exceed the present profits. The experience of many late Sales do not shew the objections you urge. It having been proved from these, that Negroes, above any other thing sold, draws forth the Planters cash, with which they abound at present from the late high price of Tobo. Punctuality would perhaps be recommended by this means - Let the sale be for 12 months credit, 5 pr. cent discount be allowed for ready money, and if the purchasers fail to pay at the end of the 12 months, then such as fail, to pay interest from the time of purchasing. Now if many should fail, yet they at length pay 5 pr. cent. from the time of the sale, which I am persuaded is more than you at present receive from the estate. I can not help thinking, that when once it was known that you were inclined to sell, altho not urged by any necessity to do so, that reasonable offers would e’er long be made, and in the mean time, the land would, by renting the clear ground only m<ore> t<han> defray its own expence. The Governor’s land would in this case I think be all rented for w<hat> it will bring, that the rent you are to pay for <it> may at least be obtained. But it will do much more than this. At present, I think of going up with your Captain to Frederick when he arrives, the great crops made there by some lowland Gentlemen promising considerable consignments. Give my love to the Doctor, and say I will write him largely by Capt. Blackwell, who sails hence some time next month, in the meantime, I send him a bill of exchange for what his Chair sold - it being the utmost farthing I could obtain for it - I have got three fine Summer ducks for Lady Shelburne, which Capt. Blackwell will bring - I am sure if no accident happens to them they will please the two Drakes being exceedingly beautiful.

Our best love attends our Sister

Your ever affectionate brother and faithful friend.

R. H. Lee