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To Mr. J. Smith

Fredericksburg 30th April 1790

DrSir
As I promised you I have enquired of Mr John
Marshall whether he remembers any chancery
adjudication on a pecuniary legacy in a will
made in paper money times - He does not recollect
any decree which reduced the nominal sum to an
equitable one, but in a case in which he was
councel Mr Wythe expressed an opinion, that
a pecuniary legacy in paper money times should
not be considered as specie, unless from the will
something shewed the intention of the testator to be
specie, or prima facie it was to be construed
a paper money legacy. From this I am induced
to advise you to refuse to pay the legacy
to Sally Smith in specie, and if sued in chancery & where done you can be fined
an equitable value will be put on it
I am your most obed Serv
Charles Lee

To Mr. J. Smith

[?] Fredericksburg 30th April 1790

As I promised you I have enquired of Mr John
Marshall whether he remembers any chancery
adjudication on a [?] legacy in a will
made in paper money times- He does not ucollect
any [?] which reduced the nominal sum to an
equitable one, but in a case in which he was
council Mr Wythe expressed an opinion, that
a [?] legacy in paper money times should
not be considered as specie, [?] from the will
something [?] the intention of the [?] to be
[?], or [?] it was to be contrued
a paper money legacy. From this I am induced
to advise you to refuse to pay the legacy
[?] you can be [?]
to Sally Smith in specie, and if [?] in [?}
an equitable value will be put on it
I am your [?]
Charles Lee