| Page 1Dear Sir,
I have but lately received yours of the 20th March - the dearest obtained
by the Greens to against us I find has been made in the manner I expected - we
had no person at the trial to appear for us ; I was very much pleased when you
informed me last fall that W Wickham has been engaged for us, I should have
been glad he had been on our side, he would have been engaged by me with Majs.
Holmes, before I left Virginia had I not been told he was engaged against us - I was
informed that he was employed to appear for Gen Williams' children, but from what
you mention of W. Greens informing you that W Whickhams appearing for me
at the trial. I presume that W Wickham appeared for Gen Williams himself and
he being a Defendant with me. it will seem that he appeared generally for the
Defendant, so I have very little acquaintance with Mr. Hay, I am told he is an
ingenious Lawyer, but I think it best (unless Mr. Tucker is engaged in that [unclear]) to conlsult
Majs. Holmes, and know from him whether he think Mr Hay competent to the
suit and if Majs. Holmes advises it. I think another ought to be employed directly - you
do not mention if Mr Hay has been promised te 50 Guineas offered Mr. Wickham in case
we succeeded in our claim. If such a promise has not been made I think it best
that he be promised the 50 guineas - provided we succeed in our claim.
I make no doubt but there will be an appeal against the decree of the Chancellor
if it should be against us - out own lawyer ought to take our appeal - and give notice for
you - should the Chancelllor decree against us again - I think not to wait for the decree
of the appeal court but come to Virginia as soon as possible. You mention that you
had employed Mr [unclear] George Tucker to appear for us in our granted [unclear] but do not
mention particularly the suit for the separate claim, which leaves me uncertain
whether or not he is to appear for us in that suit; because part of our suits are
at Richmond and part at Staunton, ^ a [unclear] in [unclear] and he probably does not attend both places.
If Mr Tucker undertakes our suit for the separate claim - for that syuit I am disposed
to give him the same fee you promised Mr Whickham and which I expect Mr Hay to get - that is $30 in
hand and 50 guineas more in case he carries the suits then the court and we succeed.
I shall be very much pleased indeed to hear that Mr Tucker is engaged in this suit. I
have heard that he is a young man of considerable talents, and very attentive to his
profession. We are more interested in having a lawyer at the court in Richmond than
at Staunton - for all our causes will end in the court of appeals If Mr Tucker attends
the courts in Richmond. I wish you would ask him to procures from the court of Chancery
there, and from the Court of appeals - and from the District Court of [unclear], and
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