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Expresses joy that Congress has proposed to exhume the body of "my venerable Grandparent" [George Washington] and as the "last but one survivor of the family of Washington," consents to his reburial "beneath the dome of the Senate house."

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Asks if he can send herring up to him as the fishing in the Potomac has been bad, so the price is very high $3.50 to $4 per 1000; corn is 44 to 45 cents and will probably go up to 50 or 60 cents in June.

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Has received the draft for $1025; Nelson can dispose of the rest of the corn as he wishes; the news we are soon to receive from England may greatly affect the price of wheat and corn; is gratified to hear Nelson will have 2500 to 3000 bushels of wheat the best in 45 years; Custis will visit in October.

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Wrote three weeks ago and has received no reply and as he has not heard from his estates for nearly half a year, is anxious for news; would have visited but his health has been poor.

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Wrote three weeks ago and has received no reply and as he had not heard from his estates for nearly half a year, is anxious for news; would have visited but his health has been poor.

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Gives Nelson directions for remitting several drafts; is happy with the 1000 barrels of corn Nelson will have for sale, especially as the price is still rising; is glad the wheat is promising and that they will soon be able to compare the value of "oyster shells and Marl," and the improvements by "plaister and clover; requests Nelson be careful with curing the hams as some have arrived "injured."

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Advises him not to sell the 1000 barrels of corn at 80 cents a bushel in New York, $1 in Baltimore and if they wait they too will get $1 a bushel; needs the money and wants to enjoy the rarity of selling a good crop at a good price.

Scope and Contents Suspension of the [British] Navigation laws has temporarily caused the price of corn to steady but it will soon rise again; will sell his corn at $1, although by next August the price should be great as there are reports of demand abroad even in the Mediterranean; in 1810[?] will actually go to $9 a barrel; on the 22nd was at a celebration in Alexandria and shipwrecked on the way home; there will be a railroad built across the "White House" estate; will send instructions regarding this...

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Nelson's good news regarding the wheat and corn crops has bettered his spirits which are low due to the loss of the sale of the corn crop; the markets in Europe are still depressed but surely have reached their lowest point; when to sell the wheat will depend upon the English harvest; advises Nelson to go ahead and sell the ship timber; the success of the Oyster Shell [fertilizer] will transfer the Pamunkey [rive] lands.

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Prices in Europe have declined even further, but may go up if rains hit the harvest there; his health is bad and spirits, low.

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Feels Nelson has made a judicious sale of the wheat, considering the times and prices; advises to sell the corn South in Norfolk or Richmond as prices in North are lower; his health is better with the waning of the frosts.

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The prices of breautographed signed documenttuffs are better here than in Europe; corn is 75 and 80 cents in Philadelphia and New York, wheat is $1.35 to $1.50 in the North; was not in New York for the laying of the Corner Stone of the Washington Monument despite what the papers say; the prices for corn and wheat should be good in Baltimore due to the burning of the Gallego mills.

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Nelson's draft for $600 is greatly appreciated as Custis has agreements due now and would have had to have sold his corn early; gives specification for Chestnut rails [for railroad?]; is readying his Pocosin [lands?] for planting.

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The price of breautographed signed documenttuffs is improving so he wishes to wait before selling his corn; if Nelson's fishery was good he wants him to lend him [GWPC] $300-$400.

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Thanks Nelson for the butter and corn; notes the price of corn is rising but, as he needs the money, wants Nelson to sell it when he feels it adviseable; is not surprised Nelson's fishery was bad as it was bad on the Potomac and Delaware also; sounds like the wheat crop will be fine.

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The price of corn has advanced in Europe so he hopes his money needs will be met; there is cholera at the plantations on the James River, in Gloucester, and on the York River; advises to prepare phials of camphor and give one to each overseer and keep one in the house to be used at first instance of cramps; the rains have worked wonders on the wheat crops.

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Informs him of the sale of Major Custis' wheat which had been sent on the Schooner Harold.This letter was included within the letter listed below; D. McConky & Co., Baltimore, to George W[ashington] P[arke] Custis, ["Arlington House," Arlington, Virginia], 21 August 1849.

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A receipt for the sale of his wheat.This letter was included within the above letter; McConky & Co., Baltimore [Md.], to Francis Nelson, "White House," near New Kent C[ourt] H[ouse], Virginia, 25 Aug[us]t 1849.

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Is glad to hear Nelson has been healthy here they have had dysentery and diarrhea but no losses; tells Nelson to sell the rest of his wheat as best he can and from that money to pay Mrs. Nelson her $1000; hopes she will wait for payment of the interest on it as he has other debts to pay; has been truly economical spending only on essentials for his family and on manure for his fields; hopefully the next crop will solve his problems.