Refering to my last of 2d have now to hand You Report of last week.1 As said in my last I have now brought my Family here,2 which with Mr Pearce sickness has put it out of my power to send You Inventory of every Article I find here.3

It is however nearly compleat And will certainly forward it in my next—which I intend by Monday,4 instead of this days post, I have been at all the Farm’s various times. And have found the Stock in as good Order as they could be expected, And their nature will admit—There are a Qty old horses on the different ffarms not worth the keeping.5 And which are only a burthen, they are not worth feeding by Grain. And without some will not live one old Grey at Union Farm am affraid will not come thro the Winter—And it is my Opinion, He, and some more, should be sold next ffall at what they will bring6—An old Bull at Union another at Dog run ffarms I see are too Old, and very mischiveous They should be killed. And would make good dry Beef for the Negroes in Harvest—That at Union is in good Order. And the other not poor—Am sellecting some of the Youngest of the Cattle which are feeding for Your Table upon Your return. And also some Wedders, which we will endeavour to put in as good order as we can.7 And with the exception of some Old Sheep, and some later Lambs of last Year. Your sheep are in good Order. those at Mudy hole are the Worst8—I do not like the make of the Horned Stock, but they are in good rearing condition, And have very few Old ones amongst them. Another Year may rid them entirely of Old, the Hogs are not enough for what I suppose will be Your consump⟨tion⟩ in that Article. And I have in my power if You please to buy some, which might be put into Pens at the Distillery9—This will be set a going by two weeks from this time—By Mr Pearce being Sick Allison has some trees cut on the new ground, which ought not to have been. Davie goes on slowly with the new Road, as the frost prevents Grubing with any degree of speed.10 the Ice on the River is about one foot thick.11

Have ordered Him to cut & pick up his Corn stalks. And whenever the weather will permit, Set a number of hands from Union Dogrun and Mansion house on the road & compleat it soon12—the Ditch in my opinion should run all the way on both sides—I do not think well of filling up the Barn at Dogrun with Clay. good Joists of white Oak put all over will be done at a triffling expence. And the Grain lying thereon will always be safe—I have been working in clearing the Millrace of Ice.13 And expect to get some water down perhaps to day—The great length of that race, and coming thro some soft ground absorbs the Water—There will be a new rope wantd for the Seines, which I will have got soon—And must have a Qty of Strong Iron for Tire to the Waggon & Carts, the Weakness of the tire is the cause of their being so often broke—The Smiths tools are much out of Order—say Bellows, Anvil Vice & Hammers.

Your Farms are in general in good Order as to their plan of fields fencing, and Croping. And do not think much alteration will be of any use from the Plans laid down. Only beg leave to say that Your plan at Dogrun (in my opinion[)] is not the best.14 And will say, that I can make nearly double of the Crops of Corn & Potatoes from the same Qty of Lands by planting each separated—the Wheat must be much injured by diging the Potatoes. And they hurt in their growth by the Corn—At all events when pursued such early kinds of Corn and Potatoes should be plantd as both may be off the ground in October when the forward wheat may be sown on good Land to Advantage—I have Ordered about one Bll Corn of a forward kind, whose Ears are as large as any common Corn, and are fully dry in October, planting that kind. & London Ladys (Potatoes of that name) together might as said answer Your expectation—the Potatoes may be had in Alex[and]ria15—meantime I have to beg You make enquiry after the early kinds of Potatoes, the name I do not know—If You please buy 13 Bushels, 10 of which I would wish to plant on the small Lot next to the Icehouse.16 by dunging in the row a good Crop may be expected. And Turnip after, when the Land would be clear of Weeds, And fit to sow next Spring in Barley, or Oats & Clover. I shall look and try to have on each Farm from 3 to 5 Acres prepared for Turnip which root is very usefull for Market or Stock—In one Word I really can say that Mr Pearce has left all the appearance of Industry & attention And the utmost frugality—perhaps He has been rather too frugal from the best & purest intentions—I have only to add that my Wish is, that I may be fortunate enough to merit the same Character which I would give to Him And which He does so fully deserve from his being in a Complaining state have not been able to see the whole of the fields intended for Cultivation, but having seen the most of them, think the plans pretty well—The new ground on the sides of the Vistas will bring very little Corn, but will prepare the ground for What You intend—It will be improper to have much at Mudyhole as Davie will have this on hand therefore think that part from the Barn inclusive of the Orchard until You reach the Hill may do. Manured as much as ⟨we⟩ can, I shall send You Acct of the negroes in Cumolo, as upon each Farm but will enter them individually in my Books.17 And with much respect I am Sir Your most Obedt Humble Sert

Mr Pearce is still here on ⟨A/c⟩ of his bad State of health. will forward You his State of ⟨a/c⟩ before he goes off, which may be in a few days.18