Scope and Contents

Received letter from him and his father; visited Ridgemont which has been affected by the recent drought; the wheat rye and oat crops are decent, and there is a lot of hay; only half the crop of corn will be good; tobacco crop is "tolerable promising"; the wheat, rye, oats, and hay will keep him from starving; the state of people's crops; his people and stock are doing well; will get rid of Snap after all, so he will not have to be supported all winter; his subscription to the Virginia Advocate; convention about internal improvements attended by many distinguished Virginians, including James Madison, James Monroe, and Chief Justice [John] Marshall; decided to develop the James River; decisions of the visitors of the University [of Virginia]; will ship his tobacco to Richmond once the water level of the James River rises; accidently threw his watch with the family seal into a fire; the watch is fine, but the seal is gone; asks him to send a copy of the seal of the Fontaine family so it can be replaced on the watch; news of friends and family; Mr. Lewis sends regards; would he like to see Gov. Barbour debate a minister at the Court of St. James, perphaps kiss the king's hand? 4pp. ALS