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[V. 3 No. 22] William Christianson to Col. William Preston. Vausses, January 6th, 1781. Dear Sir: I am thus far on my way home, but shall remain here to-night; and I propose sending Tom Body with this letter to your house tomorrow, while I take the straight road myself. I will enclose £1000 to be disposed of as the Governor's letter will, I suppose, direct. I also enclose £48 for each of the boys, your son and Bill Norvell, and £27 for Richard Minat. This was allowed Minat for going up to Mahanaim; I could not get his other accounts reconsidered by the Auditory. I took no account, when I received this small sum for him, and am not sure of the exact amount, but it seems to me that it was about £27. I send two advertisements signed by the Commissioners for our District, I suppose one would be necessary at Sinking Creek. I will leave one at Byrn's, and send the others to proper places upwards, and down the other side of the River. I left Richmond on Friday evening the 29th of last month. The gentleman were endeavouring to rise next day, but I guessed they must sit some part of this week. The bill had passed for raising 3000 Regulars for the war, for three years, or by a draft for 18 months. The bounty for the war is to be 12000 dollars in hand, and a negro and 300 acres of land at the end of it. For three years 8000 dollars, and each Draft is to have 400 dollars. To raise the money, a tax of 2 per cent. in specie; in the new Congress money; or in other common currency 40 for one; or Tobacco, at £70 per hundred, or in hemp at £300 per hundred; at the same rate of 40 for one upon the late specie assessment is to be collected the last day of this present month. I was very uneasy, for fear people in this county had assessed high, but I find them moderate. Col. Nathaniel Dandridge's 124 negroes averaged £24.19 0. His land stands at £1600. Mr. Lewis's Mill an 550 acres of land near Stanton £180. Billy Bowyer's house and land, 6 negroes and 6 horses £355. Your old place by Stanton £70. Mich. Bowyer's negro wench and child £30. In Rockbridge they valued some higher. The Stone-house land £136, besides the houses, Col Fleming's land £135, buildings £40, Vausses 1173 acres £108, mill £40. In Buckingham, Tom Anderson's land, called 300 acres low grounds £705, buildings £200, negroes 50, averaged £25. I believe other counties may be higher, but some are lower. I came by Stanton and made enquiry at Billy Bowyer, upon which I was furnished with what I mention in that neighbourhood. I mention these things to you, fearing that our county has been to honest. There is no news of peace. The king dissolved his Parliament last summer, and upon the new election the minority were universally left out. Burke was hissed in the streets of Bristol where he had been formerly popular. Gen'l Kniphausen sailed with 4000 Troops the 10th of December from New York, for the southward. It is supposed, they mean to make their best exertions for North Carolina and Virginia this year; we are but weak that course. I met your letter, with Griffith's petition, at Mr. Flemming's, and, therefore, will enclose it to you again: also Trigg and Sawyer's letter, supposing there may be papers in it. The Spaniards want the navigation of the Mississippi confirmed to them, but our assembly will wave that subject till next spring. I spoke to Stephen May, yesterday, to come up immediately and take up a dancing school: I wish to know if you would take a third of his wages upon you. He asks £60, old way, for teaching, 36 days. Perhaps you, Mr. Madison and myself can take in some neighbors to help out with money. I will send for him to begin at Mahanaim, because it may not answer, some time hence, for family reasons. I wish you would desire Young to go up and see me next week about the mill. Mr. Madison keeps making me laugh about divers matters, but after all he will join the schoolAdieu. I am your obd't humble serv't, WILLIAM CHRISTIAN. (No. 22 From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 3, p. 13) Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 3, p. 13 Date: 1/6/1781 |
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