Scope and Contents From the Collection: Dated 1783-1825. Letters, 1783-1825, primarily between William Short (1759-1849), American diplomat and financier, who, after a career in Europe, settled in Philadelphia, Pa., and his brother, Peyton Short (1761-1825), a native of Virginia who moved to Kentucky and engaged in extensive land speculation there and in Ohio. William gives advice concerning Peyton's career and the education of his children, and discusses other family matters, but is primarily concerned with various speculative...

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Planned to go to Kentucky by water, but it turned colder and snowed, so he went overland on foot and by sleigh; now there is ice everywhere; has booked passage to Lexington by boat, which will leave as soon as the river is navigable; mention of resettling at the mills near Frankfurt; lengthy discussion centering on the raising of sheep, the profits from the wool, and the prices of lambs and ewes; mention of Carneal's debts.

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Discourse about misunderstanding of reasons why he should return to Lexington to live.

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Mention of Dr. Ridgeley and Mr. Wilkins; also confusion over dissolution of contract with Eastland; returning to Lexington in Summer 1809, passed through fertile lands of Cumberland and Green Rivers, and purchased of a Dr. Rumsey a handsome and valuable tract in the Western County; 6000 acres, some of it already opened by nature to cultivation; much land speculation discussed.

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Scope and Contents Bank of Pennsylvania arrangements concerning [Charles] Wilkins and involving George Taylor; discussion centering on sales and purchases of slaves, including not separating families; land sale comments; care of his [PS] children after his [PS] death; other comments about Charles Wilkins, Dr. Ridgely, Dr. Rush, and the "Stanley affair".

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Scope and Contents [Ohio?] land sales discussion mentioning [Charles] Wilkins, Dr. Ridgely, and [Daniel C.?] Cooper and involving marketable price of flour and whiskey in "tight casks".

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Recently learned from Francis Scott Key, a lawyer in Washington, [D.C.], that Gen. James Wilkinson, who Key was prosecuting on his behalf, has assigned all his property to trustees for the benefit of his creditors; learned from his statement that he possessed an island off Mobile Bay; would like to learn more of it, as to name, value, quality of soil, etc.; will be travelling on Mississippi River this autumn; may visit your quarter.

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Sale of Ohio lands involving Charles Wilkins; discussion of disposition of his negroes including their aging and thus not bearing any more children, separating families, and selling them to masters of their own choosing.

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Monetary matters; read in papers a movement in congress to extend payments, and another to lower the price on the sale of public lands, and how the War [of 1812] will affect their [Congress] time in making final decisions; land sales; John [Cleve Short] wishes to join the Army, and may be the aide to General William Henry Harrison.

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Gives proposal to pay debts owed and provide for family after his death, involving sales of land, transfers of mortgages of land in Indiana and Kentucky, and use of negroes.

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Scope and Contents His [WS] idea of when he [PS] visited [William Branch] Giles was incorrect, for he visited him at his house in Amelia [Co., Va.] in 1802, and obtained titles to certain lands then; defends his actions in trying to "chase down" unpaid claims, rather than letting them go; mentions debts and claims involving Fulwar Skipwith, Gen. [James] Wilkinson, and Col. Henry (on behalf of his [PS] daughters by his second wife).

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Richard Boulware affair disappointing; sued in court, but could get back no more than property and, from a third person, $500; mills returned in a ruinous state; both our interests dictate repair of property; on advice of Charles Wilkins, have written son John for his aid; sorry the Eastland purchase so misunderstood by Wilkins and Ridgely; have been offered $8000 cash, $4000 less than value; if Boulware sale had gone through, it would have netted $20,000.