University of Virginia Library

4414. LANDS (Public), Sale.—[further continued] .

I am much pleased with
your land ordinance, and think it improved from
the first, in the most important circumstances.
I had mistaken the object of the division of the
lands among the States. I am sanguine in my
expectations of lessening our debts by this
fund, and have expressed my expectations to
the minister and others here.—
To James Monroe. Washington ed. i, 407. Ford ed., iv, 86.
(P. 1785)