On Tuesday last I met Mr. Crump. His horse was the last chance for matching Castor—I found him different in Colour, about two inches lower & his price for him 300 dollars which I thought greatly above his value. I do not think there is the smallest chance for a tolerable match for him in this part of the State—I know certainly that neither Petersburg or Richmond or the adjoining country can furnish one.—

If you are so much in want of a horse as to take one two inches lower than Castor Majr. Eggleston has a Diomede a fine Bay broke to harness 5 feet high & six years old—He is not a first rate horse but handsome & well formed for service—He may be purchased for 230 dollars—Mr. Edward Branch has a pair of very fine Bay horses both Diomedes one Six & the other seven years old five feet two inches high but neither of them have been broke to harness—I offered Mr Bran 300 dollars for one of them for myself before I received your letter—He would answer well to drive, with Castor—but he refused to break the pair—He asks 600 dollars for the pair. They are both active fine moving horses notwithstanding their size & either of them would command singly 250 dollars—They are the only two horses I have seen in this part of the State of any blood sufficiently tall or stout to stand by the side of Castor—

I can assure you I have done every thing in my power to execute your commission & the failure must be attributed not to a want of attention on my part, but to the country’s not affording a horse of the description you want—Be kind enough to present me affectionately to Patsy & to accept sir your health the warm wishes of affection

Yours sincerely