Resurrecting the First American West

as well as the the Treasury Warrants: I shall be obliged by taking a List of the Land already appropriated to undertake to locate myself, not being able to procure the assistance of anybody here without giving one Half the Land, [struck: and] those whom I depended on being too much interested [struck: to] themselves to give me any assistance. I have had an offer for some of my warrants here but have not yet come to any agreement, the Terms not being agreeable to me but as it is just now discovered that warrants of the first Date are to be first entered, ours will shortly sell well, I expect. To prevent our running any Risque, I have written to the Attorney to enter Caveats in your and my names agst. each other in order to try the validity of [illegible] Claims, in order that the Land may be secured at all Events. I have not heard from you since I left Wmsburg Williamsburg, but am in daily Expectation of a Letter &c as the Spaniard are in Possession of all the lower Parts of the Missippi Mississippi, I propose, after finishing the Business upon [which] I came out, to make a voyage down the River to see what sort of navigation we shall have. There is at present an excellent market for all Kinds of Goods at the Falls; and there will shortly be a Strong Garrison 500 miles below on the River, the supplying of [which] would be an object worth your attention, especially as it could be done without bring Boats into the dangerous Part of the River. I propose to carry down skins & Furs to pay my Expenses and if you can direct me what to do with them in Case I should not meet with a market, and also point out some mode for my maintenance at New Orleans I will do with them what you direct. It is on yours as well as my own acct. that I mean to undertake this voyage, as the value of Land here will much depend on the Convenience