Herewith you will receive letters from your Sons, who left this for Berkeley yesterday,1 as also a letter from Mr Tilghman to me. the content⟨s⟩ of which, I wish had been of a dif⟨fe⟩rent complexion, as I am not a⟨quain⟩ted with the person in whose hands t⟨hey⟩ think Corbin would have been more happily placed.2

I have detained Jerry (much against his inclination) a day longer than was intended,3 to try if through the mean of Lund Washington’s enquiries, he could be placed to any advantage in Alexandria—The result of these enquiries are, that tho’ there are ⟨many⟩ Traders in that place,4 there is none who, properly speaking, come under the denomination of a capitol one—Colo. Hooe is supposed to be the largest dealer—He has four young Men with him which he says are sufficient for his business5—That one of them, but of ⟨which⟩ he has no intimation, may leave h⟨im⟩ and in that case if Corbin incline⟨s to⟩ a Mercantile life & you chuse to plac⟨e⟩ him at Alexandria under his care ⟨he⟩ would take & instruct him to the ut⟨most⟩ of his power—At the same time he6 spok⟨e⟩ highly of Mr Fitzimmons at Philade⟨lphia⟩ (they have great dealings with e⟨ach other⟩, tho’ not Partners I believe)7 ⟨mutilated⟩ presumption is, if Mr Fitzimmons ⟨mutilated⟩ take him at all, that his terms wou⟨ld⟩ be similar to those of Constable & Co.8—With Hooe (Lund Washington is ⟨mutilated⟩ no fee would be asked, nor any thin⟨g⟩ demanded for board; the Service b⟨eing⟩ considered by him9 as an equivolant for bo⟨th⟩. It is to be further observed, tha⟨t⟩ Hooe keeps all those who are under ⟨his⟩ care, closely to business; which, h⟨e⟩ ⟨re⟩marks from experience, is not plea⟨sing⟩ to such as10 have arrived at, or app⟨roach⟩ near to, the age of Manhood; when Ba⟨d⟩ Plays, Horse racing, and gallanting ⟨with⟩ Ladies, would occupy much of the time if not restrained, & when rest⟨rain⟩ed, is generally productive of disc⟨on⟩tent & seperation.

As I am at a loss under all the circumstances which have occurred, and which appear at present what opinion to be of; I have stated facts, and leave you to determine as you may, upon a full consideration of a⟨ll⟩ the matters before you think b⟨mutilated⟩ either now, or when you may c⟨ome⟩ up here where I should ⟨mutilated⟩ to see you before I set of[f] f⟨or⟩ ⟨the⟩ Western Country, which must, if ⟨mutilated⟩ prevented by unforeseen accidents ⟨mutilated⟩ causes, be on, or before the first day of September.

I shall be very happy if I can direct Bushrods enquiries properly, to the objects you have recommended; or afford you any assistance, or advice by which you may obtain Landed property in the New Count⟨ry⟩—but the golden oppertunity I conceive is past—and I own, it has been ⟨mutilated⟩ matter of astonishment to me that all of you should have been so inattentive to it, when a question or two to yourselves must have brought the advantages of such a measure f⟨ully⟩ into view—viz.—where does my m⟨ost⟩ valuable property lye? Berkeley⟨—⟩what did it originally cost (about ⟨mutilated⟩ Years ago[)]? Nothing, or that which as near to it as possible—the Office f⟨ees⟩ & trifles to individuals. the same with the Western Lands. which a⟨re⟩ now much advanced in price—diffi⟨cul⟩ties in getting at good titles, unles⟨s⟩ ⟨mutilated⟩ ⟨pur⟩chase of ⟨mutilated⟩ who on that acct as well as others ⟨mutilated⟩ them high, &ca, &ca.11

Mrs Washington joins me in love to my Sister12 & the family an⟨d⟩ I am Dr Sir Yr Most Affecte B⟨rother⟩