8. Morning very heavy and about 9 oclock it commenced Raining which it continued to do steadily through the day—notwithstanding which I proceed to ascertain by actual measurement the qualities. This being finished betwn. 12 & 1 oclock I returned to Wiley’s Tavern & stayed there the remainder of the day.
the qualities: GW was unimpressed by Gill’s land. The 85 acres Gill specifically was offering GW were “not only extremely hilly & broken, but much worn and gullied. The (uninhabited) house thereon, is tumbling down, the Fence around the field is in ruins; and . . . no part of the land within less than 80 rod of mine” (GW to John Gill, 12 Nov. 1799, DLC:GW). GW made a counterproposal but died before any agreement was reached.