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Has received Nelson's letter and draft; will be in Richmond the 22nd and ready to accompany Nelson to the "White House" on Saturday.

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Is anxious to hear how Nelson sold the corn, about the wood cutting, and how the wheat crop is; does Nelson think anything will come of steam navigation on the Pamunkey or a plank road to Richmond?; the fishery on the Potomac is the best for March in 20 years; any money to be spared can be used, for it is time to buy guano, cloves and plaister; please send the barrel of herring to Baltimore.

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Questions whether anything grew out of the suggestion to initiate steam navigation on the York River and its branches in New Kent, Hanover and King William counties; corn prices are up in Europe and will probably be $3 a barrel by spring; hears the people of Albemarle wish to build a railroad from near Hanover Court House to the tide water of the Pamunkey [River] so they needn't unload and reship at Richmond, bu such improvements go slowly in Virginia.

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Still needs the advance of $600 on the corn, which he will pay back as soon as the corn sells; expects the largest crop of wheat ever on his estate.

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Is sorry he did not get to see Nelson before the severe weather set in; Nelson did well to get 90 cents for his wheat; corn is at 60 cents; is proud of the improvements Nelson has made on his estate; "indeed it may be fairly said the Old Virginia is rising from the dead"; Nelson and Mr. [Edmund?] Ruffin should publish a memoir Improvements on the Pamunkey so as to aid others by their success.

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The severe weather has thrown all his occupations backwards; the fish in the Potomac are late; needs the money from the corn; has Nelson send a barrel of herring from the Pamunkey as they are fatter, larger and better than those of the Potomac; asks for herring to be sent to his daughter Mrs. Lee; orders oars for his market boat; feels wood will be in demand as he has heard some New York people are planning to run steamers to Eltham[?] and a railroad from there to Richmond.

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Has not heard from Nelson since last October and needs the money for the corn crop to carry him over until his wheat goes to market as he is out of money.

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Fish is fast becoming the most expensive article of food in the United States; 50 cents for a shad or herring, $6 a thousand for herring, $8 to $10 for a hundred shad; needs money to pay for repairs on his mills; has heard that the assembly passed the Pamunkey railroad and feels the "White House" would be a good place for it to meet the water; as vice president of the Virginia chapter of the U. S. Agricultural Society he plans to elect Nelson to it.

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Col. [Robert E. Lee] will be here soon and will help him with his business affairs; they would not be in so bad a shape except that the man he contracted with to cut pine on Smith Island forfeited his contract; needs an advance on the wheat; is not feeling well.

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Made out very badly with the corn; Nelson should do well with the wheat this year; he plans to go to West Point [New York] for his health probably the last time he will go abroad; made a speech before the United States Agriculture Society of Virginia and mentioned Nelson's services to the restoration of agriculture in this state.

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Feels Nelson received a good price for the wheat, but if war comes to Europe prices will go up; Col. [Robert E.] Lee is here with Custis's grandchildren and Custis will soon go to West Point [New York] for his health; it is good Nelson is fallowing for wheat, twenty years ago this was unheard of; they are talking again of a railroad to the Pamunkey; wants Nelson to get it to cross the "White House" estate.

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Is comfortably fixed at Col. [Robert E.] Lee's quarters and Nelson can direct his mail here; the railroad from Richmond to the Pamunkey will certainly be built; wants Nelson to represent his interests if it crosses the "White House" estate a city will build up there.

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The Richmond market is the only one where grain is sold on credit and this is unfair to the farmer; feels next year they should insist on money or take the wheat to Baltimore or New York; Corn is worth $4 a barrel; is sure the improvements at "White House" will compare favorably to any ordered elsewhere.

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Has heard the railroad is to be built, and as the "White House" is the nearest point to deep navigable water on the Pamunkey they should try to get the route as it would greatly cut their distance to market; the price of wheat in New York, $2.56, is the highest ever in the United States; as a consequence land is at an astounding price for example, $100 an acre unimproved in Fairfax; corn is also on the rise; may go to Europe next summer.

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Is trying to settle his account with Mrs. Nelson with the help of Mr. Stompers; Colonel [Robert E.] Lee was there to help him, as he is a master of accounts; fishery on the Potomac has been tolerable; has heard the York River Railroad is to go to West Point; the rule is for the directors to bargain directly with the proprietors over compensation for the right of way, and if they can't agree the Commissioners of the Court decide; hopes to go to Europe to better his health and spirits.

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Fishery in the Potomac has been the worst ever; tells Nelson to pay Mrs. Nelson from the corn crop now and later from the wheat; has been assured that the railroad will run through Romancock to West Point, and Nelson should get good compensation for the right-of-way, but must get it in cash; feels they should insist that the Richmond millers pay cash as is done everywhere else in the United States.

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This is the first year he has paid his bills when they were presented, rather than giving notes; feels selling the wheat at the landing is a good idea as it saves risk, time and waste, and will be satisfied with $2 a bushel; it will be the most he has earned from his estate in 52 years; has sent Nelson a find Durham bull calf.

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Most here are selling their wheat at under $2 despite the expected high prices due to the bad crops in Europe; his health is bad and he will go to West Point [New York]; corn everywhere is very bad due to the drought, which is the worst in memory; due to his [GWPC] advanced age he feels it important that Nelson settle their accounts according to Colonel [Robert E.] Lee's instructions.

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Will be at West Point [New York] 3 or 4 weeks; hopes Nelson has continued selling the wheat which is at 70 to 80 cents a bushel; is anxious to hear about the decision on the railroad route.

Scope and Contents Feels Nelson must write him immediately and explain the suit which has been filed against him by a man in New Kent County for a debt of $900 which he [GWPC] knows nothing about; is particularly upset due to the suit; was too ashamed to go to Richmond for the agricultural exhibition where he feels he would have been greatly honored due to his many efforts on behalf of Virginia Agriculture, especially his having started the Arlington Sheep Shearing 50 years ago and having privately supported...

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Declares that this is the sixth letter he has written to Nelson without having received a reply; asserts that he has the right to require information from his agent [Nelson] and urges him to immediately convey information respecting last year's crops, "having heard nothing respecting the balance of the wheat crop which I directed to be sent to Baltimore...;" hopes they they may both part in peace.