University of Virginia Library

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I have lately been corresponding with Col. J. W. Ware
of Clarke county, who has the selling of a farm of 640 acres of
Land in Culpeper Co. in answer to my inquiries, made probably in
Jan. he said that the tract was very superior, well located and
fine for grazing or wheat raising etc. etc. & that 50$ pr acre was
his price, but that 25,000 dollars would buy the farm. He also
described the buildings & improvements, which however did not
please me, which together with the heavy price deterred me. I told
him in reply that I would probably visit that county in early
Spring & would then look at it. In the meantime however not to let
my application interfere with any negotiation he might have on
hand with any other person, as there was great uncertainty of my
becoming the purchaser. The matter remained in this state untill a
few days ago. I rec.d a letter from him, offering the farm at
20,000 which is just 31.25 pr acre. This is a considerable decline
& has induced me to wish to see it. He says that if I will make
up my mind soon, at that offer, that he was about on his way to
Richmond (his letter dated 8th inst.) & would be absent about 10
days & he would expect to hear from me soon after his return. I
have concluded to take a trip to Culpeper Ct. House next week,
leaving here on Monday 21st inst. by stage to Alex.a thence on tues
day by the Orange & Alex.a R. R.d to Culpeper where I am told the
cars arrive about 12 M.leaving Alex. about 9 A.M. I enclose Col.
Ware's advertisement that you may know the location of the farm,
& I invite you to meet me there if you can arrange your business
to get leave of absence for 3 or 4 days. You would have some 40
miles by R. R.d & stage to get there, if you could send me an
answer to get here by Saturday 19th & let me know whether you
could meet me I would be glad. If not in time to reach here you
could direct to Alex, so as to arrive on Monday night. If you come
get a letter of introduction if you can to some one who would give
us desirable information as to farm for sale. If nothing prevents
I expect to make the trip, very bad weather or indisposition might
prevent, of which I might apprise you by Saturday if I change my
mind, which however is improbable, at present, & if I go I should
be exceedingly glad to meet you. Possibly you could accompany me
home & spend a week with us. Get all the information you can, &
come well posted in regard to farms for sale etc. I feel now in
the humor of a purchase if a bargain can be had.

I am a little surprised & chagrined that you & Edw.d do
not write oftener. We have no news to communicate. I believe I
stated in one of my letters to you or Edw.d that Adelines youngest
child was burnt. It survived but a few days, being so badly burnt,
resulting from total carelessness for which Ann & the Mother ought
to have been punished. They left the little thing in the room by
itself where a stove was in full blast & it got to the door &
opened & played with the fire etc.

We are all in tolerable health for which Blessing we try

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I rec.d a letter of yours dated 18th Jan. only about the
middle of Feb.y & I think there is an interesting letter of yours
still on the road. I refer to an answer of yours to a long letter
about important matters I wrote you in Nov. & which answer you
seem to refer to in several letters of yours since rec.d. I have
never rec.d an answer specially to that letter of Nov. I expect
about the last of this month to pay Raleigh Colston the first deferred
payment on my purchase from him amt.g to about 2150$—due
1st Apl. the deeds have not yet been made, but I want to comply
strictly with my part of the contract, which requires in addition
to the 4000$ cash payment, an annual payment of 2100 on the 1st
day of Apl.for four years, with int. from 1st Jan 1852, for which
I was to give my 4 personal Bonds, when he made the deed. I think
it will be best to send the check to you & let you ride out & pay
him, if he does not come here after it, taking his rec.t in proper
form. I think I will do so if it will be convenient to you to
attend to the payment. Be sure to answer this promptly, if in time
to get your answer here, otherwise send it to Alex, so that I may
get it in the way, or both failing thro the uncertainty of the
mails then of you cant meet me write to Culpeper C.H. Our love
to you both.