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HENRY SEAWELL TO [crossed out text] WILLIAM [end crossed out text] Thomas RUFFIN

Washington 23d March 1824

My Dear Sir

I am at this among the most distressed men, am [crossed out text] gravely [end crossed out text] grandly
cooped up without employment, whilst I [crossed out text] survey [end crossed out text] see my business at home sufer-
ing for want of my presence. When I am to be able to get off, I can
form no guess. I despair of reaching home in time for Wake Supr
Court. The clients from whome I have received fees in that court, al-
ready begin the refunding system, it is ruinous to me, for the ex-
penses of my situation, are almost equal to the emoluments. Hainds
our client in Jail wrote me a note when I was at home enquiring whether
in case of failure, I would refund what he had pad me! I have visited
him half dozen times in a loathsome dungeon; done more druggery than
I would perfrom for the seventy dollars he has paid me, (I think it is
about that sume I have recorded) and now he calls on me to return that
unless I go through with him. There are divers cases on the Civil
docket when I have been paid - for God's sake extend to me all the
clemency you can, and intercede for me with my other brethern, be assur-
ed it is perfectly accidental that I have detained so long , nothing
but the most ill advised course in the preparation of the evidence in
relation to the preliminary point of average value could have produced
such a result, when we get over this point, then our course can be
shaped according to our own convenience and I shall have abundant op-
portunity to attend to all my business, if I can be permitted to finish
it, it is as far as my previous intentions have extended, but if I
am compelled to refund, I shall be obliged to seek indemnity, by a