1. See Advertisement, 1 Feb. 1796.

2. GW received other communications regarding his western lands over the next weeks. Jalcott Camp wrote GW from Philadelphia on 1 Sept., 8:00 P.M.: “Having but just arivd at this place I trouble you—to inform myself If I come too late to make proposals for 4395 acres of Land described in your Advertisement of the 1st of Feby as situate a little above the great bend on the River Ohio—If proposals can yet be receivd—would call on you or Mr Dandridge at any hour you will be pleased to name for the purpose of seeing the survey &c. Having lately visited the several tracts of Land referd to in your Advertisement down to the big Kanaway (except round bottom) any circumstances respecting the present situation of the Lands, in my power to comunicate for your information shall be given with the greatest chearfullness” (ALS, DLC:GW).

O. Fuqua also wrote GW from Philadelphia on 1 Sept.: “Observing the period is Expired, by Your Advertisements to receive proposals for your Western Lands, and that Others may be Offered; provided you have, or may Not, incline to Accept Such as have been made; from the Circumstance of my being Engaged to Explore them And for the purposes I had the honor Of Communicating to your Excellency, I feel unwilling to See the Gentlemen, without having it in my power to Satisfy them, So far at least, As may Enable them to make up their Minds, from my description And your price—should they Enter immediately into Contract with you Or Not, I am too Much Effected with the Importance of it, to do any thing in the Matter on my part to show Any precipitancy, As they have promised to Make it Interesting to me should they purchase, this Circumstance will Apprise your Excellency, that my Situation is delicately fixed—Your price And Terms, with the description I Shall hand them will doubtless Incline them to Accede to your Terms or decline the purchase—For this I Should be Thankful, Giving As Lengthy payments As may be Convenient, to Enable the purchasers to be punctual” (ALS, DLC:GW). GW’s advertisement for his western lands indicated that he would receive proposals until 1 Sept. and then give preference to the highest sufficient offer on that date.

The correspondent may have been Obadiah Fuqua (d. 1804), who lived in Kanawha County, Va., at the time of his death.

Edward Graham wrote GW from Lewisburg, Va., on 3 Sept.: “It is supposed by many that your lands on the Kenhawa & Ohio rivers will not be sold advantageously untill some person is invested with authority to retail them out in small tracts—You know before this Date how far the plan contained in your Advertisements has succeeded—If any considerable quantity of the aformen tioned lands yet remain unsold & you still wish to dispose of them by sale, I am willing to undertake the business if you should think me a proper person to entrust with it.

“My character & connections you may learn from the Honbl. Andrew Moore who has been acquainted with me many years—The Honbl. Messrs Hancock & Preston also know something of me.

“I went through the course of study usual at public Seminaries, under the care of my Brother the Rev: William Graham at Liberty Hall Accademy—From there I went to New London in Campbell County & the Accademy at present established at that place took its rise under my immediate tuition—From New london I was called to Liberty Hall to assist as tutor under my Brother—Last Spring I resigned my place at the Academy & removed to Kenhawa which is my present place of residence & I practice law there & in this County.

“I have given you these outlines of my history that you may the better judge how far I might suit the business for which I offer myself & that you may the better know what enquiries to make respecting me if you should think my proposals worthy your attention.

“My proposals you will readily perceive are very indefinite; the reason is, I do not know in what manner you might wish your lands disposed of—However I would expect to attend to the division of the land agreeably to the directions that might be given, pay all expences of Surveying &c., transmit to you the monies arising from the sales, give security for the due performance of my part of the contract & as a compensation for my trouble & expence receive a certain proportion of the land.

“You will please to transmit me an answer as soon as convenient—It may be sent to the post office in Lewisburgh” (ALS, DLC:GW; the cover indicates that the letter was posted at “Greenbrier Ct House” on 8 Sept.). Andrew Moore, George Hancock, and Francis Preston were Virginia congressmen.

Edward Graham (d. 1840) represented Kanawha County in the Virginia House of Delegates for the 1797–98 session. His affiliation with Washington College (formerly Liberty Hall Academy) included service as a trustee from 1807 until his death.