on Sunday last Mr Gough and his aid young Bagby arrived at Poplar Forest to take charge of your concerns for the ensuing year agreeably to an arrangement previously made betwen him and Mr Thos J Randolph and on Tuesday Evening Mr Randolph came himself and handed me your letter of 9th Inst, but as my authority ceased as soon as he took possession, I gave him the keys made him acquainted with the contents of your letter, and took my leave of the business, which has employd almost the whole of my attention for six years and six months.1 I regret extreamly that I have not been more succesful in my management, but it I know has not been for the want of the full exertion of all my powers, and the greatest possible desire to give entire satisfaction to you, but I still hope and believe, that the profits of my labours, will be better understood and felt hereafter. In taking leave of your affairs I must beg to return you my highest acknowledgments for the friendship and politeness you have Shewn towards me during the whole of my Superintendance, as it will afford me the greatest satisfaction during life, and that I shall always feel the strongest desire for the happiness and prosperity of yourself and evry branch of your family whom I am acquainted, and ever be proud to render any service in my power as a neigbour or friend to you2 or them so long as I live.—

at the request of Mr Randolph I have undertaken to settle the shop accts and little debts in the neighborhood, which are but few, and account to you or him, according to your pleasure, The wheat as you have been informed did not turn out more than a ⅓ what I expected.3 I was deceived, owing to the quantity of chaff and false grains, that blew off with the chaff.4 Never was such an indifferent crop in Virgina before since my recollection. after saving 344 bushels, paying the overseers, their share, which was only 26½ bushels, reduced our recepts in the Mills to 360 bushels, the proceeds of which I shall pay Mr Robertson agreeably5 to your order, there is as I believe 20 or 30 bushels still in the barn, but fit for nothing, except the stock, the corn turned out nearly what I expected, at Tomahawk 210 barrels and at B. creek 257 barrels, total 467 barrels and I think there was upwards 400. put in the houses, it was all accuratly measured, and sorted, besides there was about 30 barrels of short corn or nubends which answer well for stock. Mr Randolph6 and Mr Gough with me have examined the Tobo and seem to be pleased with the quality, I do not know their opinion of the quantity, but the overseers were confident there would be upwards 30,000℔. the court did not take up the report of the Viewers of the alteration of the road at their last tirm, but, will the next, they said that it required one months notice to the tenant, thro. whos land the road passes, Mr Clark was not there, but Mr Gilmer will attend to it, the Viewers told me that it would be opposed, by Cobbs, Harrises and several others. but nothing was said to me on the subject.7 Mr Randolph with Mr Radford had a good deal of conversation concerning it, the other day at my house to whom I beg to refer for further particulars—

we omitted last spring to have our usual annual Settlement, and for my services for the two last years, 1820 &, 21; I have no acknowledgment, which I will be glad you will send me as soon as convenient, I never meant as long as I could possibly avoid it, to draw the money from you, if it should be attended with any serious inconvience to you to pay it, but it always will be acceptable, any part, that you can spare. We have been unfortunate in loosing 2 of our best house servants this year, and we have been endeavoring to supply their places out of our own stock, but have fail,d, could you pay me as much as would purchase a good female Servant, this winter or Spring it would be a very great accomodation to, us, or if it should be agreeable to you to sell, I will give a liberal price for Lucy at P. F. as we are acquainted with her and She appears to be attachd to the family, but I do not know that she would be willing to be sold