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Inquires about plans for educating sons [John and Charles]; suggests Princeton as a good place; college costs less than $300 a year, with $450 necessary in supplies; surprised over sale of Ohio lands to Carneal at a discount, especially as he always pictured him as dishonest.

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Scope and Contents Has inquired into various schools in the region [for John and Charles]; only one definitely to be rejected is Princeton, where students have recently revolted; "Southern" boys have so much money they are a bad example and taverns are so near the school, they are a constant temptation; prefers a local school, headed by the Frenchman, Carrè; however, he does not admit boys older than 13 years; requests information on Carneal sale.

Scope and Contents More hopeful of embarking this summer than before; will do whatever possible to aid sons [John and Charles] in getting in a school; thinks that the plan of sending one before the other is a good one; Princeton is still in a state of insurrection, but if restructured better than formerly it is to be preferred; looking into Carlisle, and a school at Germantown run by a Catholic priest who does not meddle in religion; chose between three; describes tombstone made for parent's grave; will be...

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Sends more precise information on Princeton program, which is better, and more strictly administered since the insurrection; have Mr. Wilkins certify handwriting on Paskie sale; Gen. Wilkins says John Kerr at Chillicothe a good man to handle affairs.

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Just returned from the falls at Niagara; problems with the post to Kentucky; discusses evils of speculation, giving the examples of Robert Morris, prince of all [speculators] and George Nicholas; only Pasties tract remains; please press Mr. Wilkins to go to the next court for that.

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States opinion of sending sons to Princeton if they desire to study law, rather than school in Philadelphia; mention of Carneal and Col. [Henry] Skipwith and debts owed by them; Paskie land issue.

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About to sail for [France?]; has written to Mr. Wilkins about dealings with Carneal; desires moneys to be deposited in Bank of the United States Philadelphia; is leaving a trunk at the U.S. Bank with papers; also in it will be a tin box with titles; his son has not arrived; if he arrives after his departure, he will be assisted by Mr. John Vaughan or Mr. Mahler (?) Dickenson; asks that he sell all of his lands as soon as possible.

Scope and Contents In a former letter, advised that horses sell easier and at a better price in Ohio than in Kentucky, and that his horses should be sent there, but has recently observed in the Frankfort Palladium that the horses were put up for public sale; good market for [iron?] castings there; could probably sell 20 or 30 tons assorted; Mr. Owens promised all or part of payment due next spring in tall kettles, and a lower price if collect them at furnace rather than Lexington; perhaps, if funds allow,...

Scope and Contents Glad he is travelling by land; please advise as to route; suggests he go westward by way of Col. [James] Henry; should leave patents for the 20,000 acres and other papers with Col. Henry, or some other dependable person; send information as to titles and prices desired; should have stayed in Kentucky, at least in opinion of Dr. Ridgely and Mr. Wilkins; also would have saved living in taverns from Florida to New York these last twelve months; lengthy discussion of travel route and monetary...

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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.

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Detailed plan for settlement of debts and estate; expresses gratitude for his support; sister, [Jane (Short) Wilkins] is dying.

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Latest debt and estate settlement proposals mostly agreeable; feels that he [PS] has only hurt himself [through his speculation]; sorry to hear about sister, but knows she will soon be in heaven.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Charles [Wilkins Short] doing very well in Hopkinsville, Ky., with a lucrative practice; reviews past ten years of business matters mentioning matters such as the success of coal mines in Kentucky until after the War [of 1812], when the rest of the United States was in a state of depression, a mill that was razed during the earthquakes in the winter of 1811-1812, supporting his children in various matters, and the sales of land labor, and farm stock and produce; comment...

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If Wilkinson's and his case come up before his appearance, please have Mr. Wickliffe appear instead of Mr. Haggar, who might betray him; do not know if [Henry] Clay has, but thinks he has come near; can promise Wickliffe respectable fee; sorry about illness of last sister; has promised brother [William] an additional lien on estate to secure balance of payment due him.

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Comment on continued breakdown of communication between one another; debt and mortgage information.