Fairfax County Gunston-Hall Octor. 16th: 1789.
Since I received your Favour, informing me that Colo. George Nicholas express'd himself rather doubtfully respecting his being employed in my Business in the Kentucky District, I have received two Letters from him, acknowledging the Receipt of a letter from me, after his Arrival in Kentucky, and assuring me I might depend upon his undertaking all my Causes; at the same time desiring I wou'd remit some Money, for his Fees, to his Lady, then in Baltemore Town; which I endeavour'd to do; but after the Money's having remained about two Months in a Gentleman's Hands in Alexandria, for the Purpose of being remitted to Mrs. Nicholas in Baltemore, it was return'd to me, with an Assurance, that he had not been able to send it by any Person, who cou'd be safely trusted with Money; after which, I knew no better Method than to lodge the Money with my friend Colo. Harvie in Richmond, to be conveyed to Mrs. Nicholas by the first safe Opportunity; as I imagined she must before this Time, have return'd from Baltemore to Albemarle.
Whether Mr. John Brown intends to return to his Practice of the Law in Kentucky, I know not. I received a Letter from him, dated in New York, informing me, that he had put all his Business into the Hands of his Brother, Mr. James Brown (who I am inform'd, by many Gentlemen, is a Young Man of exceeding good Character, & Abilities) and that he had also gone over my Papers with Mr. Nicholas, & given him every Information in his Power; so that I hope, after all my ill luck with Lawyers, my Business is now in able & safe Hands. I must beg you will endeavour to get Repayment of the Money received by Mr. Perkins (who never did any thing for it) from his Exr. who I understand is Mr. Innis; & unless he can make it appear, by an Acct. legally setled with the Court, that he has fully administered, I must desire he may be sued for it. Mr. Sebastian ought also to engage positively in all my Causes, without further Doubt, or Hesitation, or return the Money he has received. The last I believe wou'd be most to my Advantage; as he is too fickle & whimsical a Man to be depended on; this is the Character he has borne thro' Life hitherto, & which he will carry to his Grave.
I have never heard, & shou'd be glad to be inform'd, whether you have been able to call Saml. Boone to Account for his promisary note to me, formerly transmitted you.
I have received the best Account, I have ever seen, of the late extraordinary Revolution in France, in a Letter of a late Date from my Son John. It may probably afford you some Amusement; & I therefore enclose you an exact Copy of so much of his Letter as relates to it. He has been setled a little more than a Year in Bourdeaux, in the Consignment Line, in Partnership with two Maryland Gentlemen of the name of Fenwick, under the Firm of Fenwick Mason & Compy, & is in great Business there; having had to their Address, in the Course of a Year, the Consignment of ten Vessels & Cargoes from Virginia & Maryland, six from Massachusettes, & three from Georgia. Both his partners are now in America, & the Management of the whole Business at present in his Hands—a great Charge for a Young Man of four & twenty.
You will perceive, I think, in John's Letter, a Spirit of Enthusiasm in the Cause of Liberty, with which I am pleased, as the Fruit of the Republican & independant Principles, which I have endeavour'd to impress upon the Minds of my Boys, from their earliest Years. How they will accord with our present new-fangled Government———I hope they may; tho' I fear they will not.
Will you do me the Favour to communicate the Account of the french Revolution, with my Compliments, to your neighbour General Willkinson. From the short Acquaintance I have with that Gentleman, I take him to be as stern a Republican as myself; and I love & reverence him for it. I sincerely wish you, and yours, every Blessing; and am with great Regard, dear Sir, Your affect. & obdt. Sert.