University of Virginia Library

MARCH 2.

Most of those negroes who are tolerably industrious, breed cattle on my estate, which are their own property, and by the sale of which they obtain considerable sums. The pasturage of a steer would amount, in this Muntry, to 12 1 . a-year; but the negroes get grass for their cattle from me without its costing them a farthing; and as they were very desirous that I should purchase the whole, I ordered them to agree among themselves

as to what the price should be. It was therefore settled that I should take their entire stock, good and bad indifferently, at the rate of 15 l . a head for every three-year-old beast; and they expressed themselves not only satisfied, but very grateful for my acceptance of their proposal. John Fuller and the beautiful Psyche had each a steer to sell, and they were paid down their 15 l .a-piece instantly, which they carried off with much glee.