aftar makeing several remarks the othar day at Your house on the subject of Cruelty towards slaves by there Marstars You then dropped the subject & remarked, You had a few days past inadvertently Named a subject in the presence of Mr Taylar that some way concerned him, it immediately struck me, You had heard of my using Cruelty towards my slaves & gave this, as a friendly hint. for the truth is a Negroe fellow of Mine Now in the woods & has been run of, since June, has said I tried to knock him in the head, true he rebelled & struck at me several times whilst, on my horse, with a rail I dismounted & knocked him down. aftar a little, he got up & ran. although he is a bad fellow yet I cant help thinking he was bribed to this act by a White Man, in this surmise I hope in God I am mistaken, I assure You & can bring abundant proof to testify that no Man is More particular with his slaves then I am. there appearance prove it more then all the proof, true these that are very bad, I use harsh mean with. but it hurts me, to the very soal to do so, for I do not approve of slavery but we have them & are bound to do the best we Can & as to cruelty towards them, no Man can hold anothar in greater abhorrence then I do a Wanton Cruel Marstar. the rules that I have adopted for the govermint of my Negroes are such as is calculated to reclaim the most vicious without much trouble but more expensive, I hope You will beleave this statement as there is no Consideration on this earth that woud induce me knowingly to vary from the truth, & as to the Opinions of those I do not respect I care nothing for. If You think you can take fifteen barrells Corn for the horse named I will see him & determine. about $1000– is the Sum I shall be compelled to ask for.