University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MADISON.

My last informed you of the miscarriage of the
Assize scheme. It has been followed with an attempt
to reform the County Courts, which will probably
end in the appointment of four months in which
the Courts shall be confined to Docket business &
compelled to dispatch it. A Bill is depending for
the payment of British debts, nearly on the model of
that which fell thro' last year. It is extremely grating
and will be rejected unless the prospect of an

accomodation with G. B. on the subject of the posts
& the negroes, or the apprehensions of being saddled
with worse terms by delay, should overcome the disinclination.
The port bill has not been yet taken
up. It will be severely attacked. We have a variety
of orders of the day which will consume time, and
other bills are to be brought in. Of course the end
of the Session is remote, unless impatience should
produce the same effect as a conclusion of the business.
The petition of the little fork has been justly
rejected, by a general vote. I have not yet disposed
of your Tobo. The price has not latterly exceeded I
believe four dollars, and I am told to day that 20/1, is
talked of. I have never yet had it in my power to
make the enquiries at the land office, or to get out
your patents. Capt. Barbour tells me he has been
there and could not get the information relative to
Turpin without a knowledge of some dates which
you have not mentioned to him or to me. If you
have any unliquidated claims agst. the U. S. that can
be settled by the Comisss. before the 1st. day of Jany.
or loan office certificates issued from the Cont. officer
here the interest up to Decr. 1782 will be paid at the
Treasy. in specie. Let this circumstance be known if
you please, tho' I suppose it will be too late. It may
be of the less consequence, as such warrants for interest
will in future be receivable in taxes. The Quitrents
for the Northern Neck are abolished by a bill which
is gone up to the Senate. The Bill for establishing
Religious freedom passed the H. of Delegates
as it stands in the Revised Code. The Senate have
disagreed to the preamble and substituted the last
Article of the Declaration of Rights. Which house
is to recede, is uncertain. Both are much attached to
their respective ideas. Capt: Barbour tells me Payne
has engaged his brother Js. B. to pay the money due
to you. I wish you could let Majr. Moore have about
£ 18 of it, the amount of his interest on the certificate
obtained from Dunscomb by Mr. Hubbard Taylor,
& left with me. Let me know whether such an
arrangement will be practicable. Be kind eno' also to
let Capt. Walker & my brother F. know that I am
called on for their balances to the Steward of Hampden
Sidney by a man here who has an order on me
for them, present my regards to the family and
believe me to be your