George Mason to William Fitzhugh (February 26, 1786)

Gunston-Hall Febry 26th. 17[86]

DEAR SIR

I have your Fav[our by] Mr. Scott. I have paid for the Servant Man.

Mr. Scott has been lucky enough, he tells m[e, to] extract from Mr. R. Graham his Quota of your joint Adventure in the western Co[untry] which is more than I expected wou'd be d[one] for some time. I congratulate you upon y[our] Success in securing your Lands; which fr[om] all Accounts, will turn out better than y [ou] expected. My Affair[s in tha]t Quarter [. . . Cou]ntry against which there is not a Caveat [. . . ] done me, I have no Doubt of oversetting the greater Part, if not the whole, of them; but at any Rate, it will cost me an infinite deal of Trouble.

Our Assembly rose about the End of January, after setting from abt. the Middle of October, & doing little, but making one Week, & the next Week unmaking Laws, except indeed going thro' several of the Acts in the new Code, & spoiling some of them.

I suppose you have heard that the Compact, between Maryland and Virginia, is signed. I hope to see you here some [time] next Month. I ha[ve . . . ] Mr. George Fitzhugh [. . . ] shall be taken Care of, until I see eith[er him] or you.

Mrs. Mason & the Family here join [in] presenting their best wishes to you, y[our] Lady, & Family with, Dr. Sir Your affecte. Kinsman [&] obdt. Sert.

G MASON