USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 5
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An appeal to the Trustees to help repel the abuse and cal. umny.
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CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
but the Honble Trust will at their proper leisure afford me the comfort.of their support, under such a Torrent of Calumny and Abuse; and let the World see that they'll no longer suffer a vile crew of men, to shoot out their poisond ar- rows, against their Honours, and go off impune ; nor let the meanest of their Servants be insult- ed, set at naught, & trampled on, without any Vindex appearing in his favour. I hope M. Hopton will find means to get one or two more of those inimitable peices of Infamy, wch the Junto at Charles-town lately publishd, and send it for their Honours perusal : and then twill ap- pear, whether or not any rough Words yt may have droppd from my pen, are to be justifyd, or want of temper on such an occasion, may be excused-But I say no more.
Cap Thomson is at last going; by whom some of those accompts will go, y' were order'd to be sent by him: and the fault is not mine, that they were not sent before. But as I know M. Jones writes you largely on these things, besides divers other matters (some of weh he has com- municated to be) I would chuse to say little now, & avoid surfeiting you with too much of one thing at once: for my Intention is, when I think I can foresee a little respite from vexatious Jangling, to address their Honours with some sentiments of my own, on various occasions; and probably make use of some of that free lib- erty in delivering my thoughts, which I must always remember, was in a kind manner pressd home upon me, when I first commenced their
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
Servant: and this I intended for my next work, with as quick Dispatch as I can.
In regard to Mrs. Watts' house.
After my repeated endeavours, at sundry times, to come at the true knowledge of the Per- sons that were Tenants in Mrs Watts house, what length of time they occupied it, what rent they paid, to whom, &e; I have got an account form- ed as well as we can of it; but tis yet lame, as you'll see; & as far as tis possible for me to set it in a fuller light, you shall have in my next: I mean as to the Recovery of what mony is due, from Mess" Causton, Williams, & Douglas: what remains in Mr. Brownfields hands, I think to be ready when called for.
I had many things in my thoughts to impart, when I took pen in hand but they die away al- most as fast as they are conceivd; for which, a canse might easily be found: but perhaps tis better at present yt I leave it to your guessing, & defer it to my next to enlarge upon; when I am a little farther informd what will be the up- shot of all these Fewds.
I remain S.
Your Most assured humble Servant
Will : Stephens.
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CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from Mr. Bolzius.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. BOLZIUS. RECD 14 NOVR. 1741
Ebenezer in Georgia July 25 1741
Dear Sir
I have taken last month the Liberty to answer duly your kind Letter to me of the 17th Dec. last, which my Letter Cap. Thomson will deliver you after his safe Arrival. My present writing to you is occasioned by the inclosed Letter of His Excellency Gen1. Oglethorpe, which He has sent me open to be inclosed, when I write to you. As the General has been allways generous & fatherly minded towards our Settlement, agree- able to the Generosity & Goodness of the Honble. Trustees, so he has given now an undenyable proof of it by lending to the Saltzburgers (sic) hundred Pounds Sterl. for several uses mention- ed in His Letter of Advice to you, which I have drawn here by his Order upon you. I design to lay out a Part of this Money to discharge the Debts of our Water Mill, & to build a neces- sary Work beseds in the Mill, till the Lord in- ables me by Benefaction to discharge the whole Debt, & repay this advanced Sum of the Gen- eral. God be praised for this new Evidence of his fatherly Care for our young Settlement, to which He has inclined graciously his Excellen- cy. May He be pleased to preserve His & their Honours, the Trustees Health & Life for many years to our Satisfaction, I wont trouble you
Genl. Ogle- thorpe always generous and fath- erly to- wards the Colony.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Letter to Gen. Oglethorpe Unsigned.
any more for the present, but commending you to God's Blessings, & me with my Fellowlabour- er & our Flock to their & your Favour, I am Dear Sir Your most obedient very humble Servant John Martin Bolzius.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER TO GEN. OGLETHORPE UNSIGNED -
Savannah July 29th: 1741
Sir
Yesterday in the Even, Mr. Duche Detd me your Excell": Letter of ye 21". wth: a Coppy of his Petition enclosed- I told him that I wod: advise wth. Col Stephens (then out of Town). Accordingly this morning we sent to Mr. Duchee, & acquainted him, That it was not in our power to advance him the Loan of £ 50, out of that Sum appropriated by ye: Trusts. for defraying the Incident Expences, having already disbursed near the whole of that Sum in providing for the Sev': Branches included under that Article, Such as Publick Buildings, Repairs, Light House &e- That we wod: { this Oportunity write to your Excellence, & shod. readily ober your ordr. in paying that or any Sum of money in our Power- We therefore intreat you to favour us with an order for the payment of such
Unable to advance loan to Mr. Duchee.
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CORRESPONDENCE
Letter to Gen. Oglethorpe Unsigned.
Loan and direct us in whose Name ( for the re- payment thereof,) his Obligation, shall be made to- Indeed one reason of our thus deferring the Loan to M'. Duchee (tho' not mentd. to him) was our not having heard from the Trust. for near Six Months past, and the Sums Remitted us for discharging the Estimated Expence of the Colony to Michs: next, being near Ex- pended .-- N. B; exclusive of ye Sum of £ 1000 -recª { Capt Thomson and the Sum recª. for building the Church weh Sums yet remain entire.
I have herewith sent an Abstract of some Sums of money, to ye Amº. of £ 551, pd. by me ( ord':). for your Excelly's: Accot., since I came last to Savannah; That if your Excellence please to send any Bills of Exchange (for what Sums you think proper), We shall be thereby enabled to answer any paym': you shall order; and defray other necessary Expence for the publick Service, until we receive further in- structions from their Hon's: the Trusts :-
I shall not presume to give your Excellence any Acco': of what have lately occur'd at Savan- nah (not doubting but they are better known by you already than I am capable of declaring them) Yet least your Excellence shod. not have timely notice of a Representation, or Petition to his Majesty, Signed by Sixty one (including Strangers & Servants) at M'. Mathews's on the 24th : & 25th : instant, wch. is to be presented to his Majesty by S': Rd: Everard & M. Beaufine (weh. I expect soon to have a Copy of) I hope
Trustees not heard from for six months.
An account of a notice of a Repre- sentation or Petition to his Majesty.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Letter to Gen. Oglethorpe Unsigned.
you'l pardon me in giving this Brief Account of that Transaction-
List of items set forth la Petition.
This Petition had been fram'd, & Shewn by S'. Richd: to M' : Clee & others before M. Duchee and OBryan went to Frederica, tho delayed be- ing Signed untill their return, The foremost in the List of Subscribers were Fallowfield, Pye. Duchee, & OBryan- The Petition Sets forth : The great hardships they labour under on ac- count of the Tenures of their Lands- The ex- orbitant Quit Rents demandª: Their not being allowd: to have Rum imported; weh Liq': is so very necessary, especially to such as labour, in these hot Climates- The forbidding the use of Negroe Slaves, without whose labour the Country can never be Cultivated, That this is a truth, acknowledged even by those that for private Ends seem Zealous to deprive the poor Inhabitants of this Colony from the Benefit thereof, is evident. For General Oglethorpe himself (one of the Trusts.) makes use of Negro Slaves on his own plantation Some Miles dis- tant from Savannah, & Therefore they pray &c .- What I have mentioned is the Substance. as the same was Read by Mr. Norris to those that came to sign the Petition on ye: 25th: in- stant-perhaps the Bear': (Smithers) whose name is Subscribed thereto, may inform your Excell' more fully-
Your Excellence having (by yo': of the 17th: instant) acquainted me That Rob' : Williams has Said, That he had paid me £ 16, on Acco': of his
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CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Jones to Gen. Oglethorpe.
promisory note, wth. being false; I tax'd him with it, He utterly denied his having Reported any such thing, not forbearing some invidious reflections on that Accot.
Mrs. Mathews having told Tentorchy That yo': Excellence had order'd me to deliver him five Horses, I assured ME: Mathews That I had reced no Such ord: yet; ( wch : I find Mrs: Math- ews doth not beleive me in; For Tentorchy seems not well pleas'd wth: me on that Acco:) I entreat your Excellence wod. direct me what I am to do in that matter. If such Horses must be got for him I must send to Carolina to have them bought .-
I expect daily the Perriague, that went wth Capt. Thomson to Chs: Town, to return wth. some Corn, Rice &c wch : shall Imediately order for Frederica --
I am &c .-
To His Excellcy
Gen1: Oglethorpe.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
COPY OF LETTER FROM MR. JONES TO GEN. OGLE- THORPE JULY 29 & 30 1741. RECD 14 NOVR 1741
Savannah 30th. July 1741.
Sir
This Boat not going off wth : the morning Tide as intended, and M. Duchee having taken a
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jones to Gen. Oglethorpe.
Mr. Ma- thews in close con- ference with the remnant of the Junto.
Sudden resolution to go to Freda .- A Messen- ger having been dispatch'd to M': Fallowfield early this morning, who came to Town by Eleven of the Clock this day. And has been since at M'. Mathews in close conferrence wth the Remnant of the Junto left here- I think it my Duty to acq : yo': Excellence w": the fol- low": Particulars from which I shall not pretend to draw any Inferences, But Submit the whole to yo': Excellence.
Declara- tions made by Mr. Duchee.
That Mr. Duchee hath frequently declared, That, tho' the Trusts: had advanced some mo- ney to him, to carry on his Potterywork, (web: by the way exceeds the Sum of Four Hundred Pounds Sterling, As by his Accot. which have ready to transmit to the Trustees, will appear) Yet he did not reckon himself obliged to the Trust for the same, because it was not their money, but given them to lay out for the En- couragem': of Setlers, and Improvements to be made in the Colony- That he (Duchee) hath declared that he wod: not rest, untill he got the Act prohibiting the use of Negro Slaves re- peal'd and the people to have a Right to Alienate and Sell their Lands and Improvem's. and also to elect their Magistrates & Officers-
An endeavor to overturn order and government.
That he hath endeavour'd to overturn all ord' : and Governm': among us, amongst many other instances of his Attempts for that Pur- pose- He has Publickly declared, That yo' : Excellence had no Power or Authority to com- mand the Militia in Georgia, or to give Commis-
81
CORRESPONDENCE
Walter Fox to the Trustees.
sions to Col: Stephens, or others for that pur- pose and that his Majesty could not grant you such powers .-
I might (had I time) give many other In- stances of M': Duchees Behaviour & Conversa- tion, tending to disturb, if not subvert the peace & Tranquility of the Colony, which, as well as what I have mentioned, have not been the Sub- jects of private Conversation only, but have on all occasions been openly and industriously spread by him, as his avowed Principles & Sen- timents .-
I am &c
To his Excell. Gen1. Oglethorpe.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM WALTER FOX TO THE HONBLE TRUS- TEES FOR YE COLONY OF GEORGIA
Att London,
RED WAX SEAL
Gentlemen
I have been very unwilling to be troublesom to Your Hon's: But my great Misfortuns that I have met with Since my first Arrival hear wich was by the means and Recommendation
82
COLONIAL RECORDS
Walter Fox to the Trustees.
Gunner of the town.
of My Lord Carpenter Obliges me to it I having acted as Guner of this Town ever sence ye first Settlemen of this Colleny which hass took up great part of my time for ye first Year I had nothing for my trouble but Since I have been allowed one Shilling & Sixpence for every time I fired ye Guns & often have been Obleaged to Give four or five Days Attendance & ye whole y: I have received has amounted but to betwen Eleven & twelve Pound wich allowance I took to be but to bare som Small Expence I having Complained to ye Magistrates I was always Promised yt: ye Honble: Trustees would Certen- ly Settle a Salary or order me Satisfaction for my trouble : but I never have received any thing though I have Charged forty Pounds Sterling for four Years Service in M': Causton time thearefour I hope y': Your Hon": will take my Case in to Consideration for it tis very hard for a man to Spend his time & cant have Satis- faction Secondly I had ye Misfortune to be burnt out a bout Six Years past Suposed to be Ocasioned by Lightining & lost all y: I had in y World Except ye Shirt I had on & ye Chief reason was y: as I wass Gunner ye People thought y' to be Sure y: there must be Powder in ye Hous & I not being present to Satisfy them to ye Contray no one Dared to Ofer to Save any thing so y. my loss a Mmounted to a bout fifty Pounds Starling & Mr. Causton Saying to me y': Doubtles ye. Honble: Trustees would order me Som amends I for Bore by his Advice having a Brief for my frinds & Neigh bours
Home struck by lightning and burned.
83
CORRESPONDENCE
Walter Fox to the Trustees.
wair willing to Contribute toward Asisting me in my Distress there fore lost yt: benefett & lick- wise never had any thing from ye Honble. Board, wich is ye Occasion of my Still Labouring under very narrow Circumstances being willing to try a bout Clearing of Land I went about it & as Your Hon's: wear pleased to Order four Pounds Starling for four Acres after y. I had Som publick work & was promised ready money for it but M': Causton Stoped it for ye Provisions I had taken out on ye Acc: of Clearing so yt I could not go on for want of money theare fore I hope y: You': Hon's: will consider my hard case & as theare hass benn a great deal of money given for Charitable Uses & yt: I never received a farthing of it have always benn will- ing to Serve this Colony & have spent all most nine Years of y Prime of my Years & by fair un proformed Promis have still Keep on But now if with out Assistance I must entierely be uncapible of ever doing for my Self Unless Your: Hon's: do grant ye A bove Request to him who is
Your Hon's : Most Humble & Obedient Servant Walter Fox.
Savannah August ye 1 : 1741
In poor cir- cumstances.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. STEPHENS TO MR. VERELST DATED AUG 6, 1741 RECD 16 NOVR. 1741
Savannah 6 Aug: 1741. Sr.
Feats of unwearied Dealers in Politics and Scandal.
Troubled state of the Colony.
The Feats of our unwearied Dealers in Poli- ticks and Scandal, have so required my close at- tention, to observe what I could learn from thenee, for a while past, that my design hitherto has been defeated from fulfilling those promises I made in my last of the 24 June & 13 July { Capt Thomson, of laying a few thoughts of my own before the honourable Trustees, relat- ing to the present troubled State of this Colony : but indeed there was little room for matters of Speculation, while we have seen the Flame, so kindled (as is well known) among Rubbish, daily encreasing, & Proximus ardet. (From such a heap of confusion, as appears in my late Journals, you'll imagine what a life they must lead at present here, whose Duty tis to stand in defence of those Rules laid down by their hon- ourable Constituents, for their better govern- ing y"selves hitherto: & whatever other measures (if any) may be prescribed in time coming by the same Powers; most undoubtedly they will equally require a strickt adherence to. But alass we are yet so far unhappy, as not to have rec any advice from their Honours, signi- fying their Sentiments on what has passd, sin ~~ these tumultuous proceedings first ap-
85
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Vereist.
peard so daring in Novber last, and have been gradually carried on, with little or no intermis- sion ever since. What can I attribute this to, but that their Honours Directions for our Be- haviour in these arduous Cases, have been in- tercepted? and the same apprehensions stick with me yt. divers occurrences, which I have attempted to lay before them, have likewise fallen short of their direction : but my hopes are every day renewd, that some gleam of Light will yet break in upon us ere long, which will most assuredly conduct us right, thro' these perplexitys, & give new courage to all such well meaning people as yet remain here.
Among sundry articles, whereof due Mem- orandums have been taken by me to say some- thing to; give me leave to allow the preference to 2 or 3 only, weh at present I apprehend most needfull; 'till a better leisure will enable me to write more fully. The appointment that the honourable Trust were pleased to make, for me, together with Mess". Jones and Parker, to issue the Sola Bills, & to be accountable for what uses they were so issued, from Micass 1739; I always lookd on in a twofold view : first as a strong instance of the kind opinion they were pleased to entertain of my fidelity; and next in consequence, I must consider it as a matter of too great Moment, for me to neglect all the caution I was capable of, in carrying those orders into Execution. After having seen those accts sent away ~ Capt Thomson lately, W.ch I conceive carried the time up to Michas
Hopes for better con. ditions soon.
86
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
1740; & should have been dispatchd sooner, had it been in my power : I am now pressing it for- ward, as far as I am capable; that when Michas next comes (wch draws nigh) the like for this last year, may be transmitted without Delay: wherein I shall take care to see my self justly debited among others, with what is owing by me to the Trusts. On this occasion I would open my thoughts a little farther (as my Duty re- quires) but foreseeing That may occasion me to expatiate possibly beyond the compass I am bound to confine my self to, at present, in this letter; I hope shortly to find a fitter opportun- ity
A Beacon being put up at Tybee.
Mr. Somner a complete master of his business.
Under so many anxious thoughts, as have op- pressd me daily of late, nothing gives me so much satisfaction, as seeing the work for a Beacon at Tybee going forward with great Ex- pedition, & equal Skill; Somner herein shew- ing himself a compleat Master of his Business. and he wants no assistance which he asks, y: we can help him to. It is carried on at Thun- derbolt, as well for the benefit of the best of Timber, wch grows thereabout (a defect too visible in the former, which was made of such as grew nearest hand, & that was mostly white Pine, as is said,) as also the commodious Car- riage by Water from thence, where 'tis to be wholly framed. & ready to put together instant- ly, when they begin, on the Foundation, which house being is the only thing left good of the late. When New light. finishid, 'twill be 4 foot higher than the former; & in the best Judges opinion, not likely to suffer
built four feet higher than the former.
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CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
any Decay, in a great number of years. In the mean time the Old one (weak as it is) yet holds up its head; & possibly may a little longer: twould be happy if we could promise our selves to see it continue, till a Successor is ready to take its place : weh will not require many months, at the rate they go on; the Timbers of the first Story being already framed: & I take it to be not the less valuable, because twill be done at so much less an expence than the former; as I promise my self will appear at the Acct being closed.
My Journal to this present date, is so stuffd with disagreeable matters, that tis enough and too much for me to refer to it: for such open Defiance of Authority has been advised and promoted, by Strangers, to a degree yt might justly create Terrours in the Minds of sober men, what Event was to be expected: and all this done without restraint from the Civil Power, by laying hold of those Boutefeus who came in among us, and after perpetrating so much mischief, went off impune: the like per- haps hardly to be instanced in any Province.
I think I may venture an Appeal to all that ever I have wrote, relating to M'. Norris's Character; & I dare say 'twill appear what a friendly part I have taken with him throughout : but if it shall also appear, y'. after he had possession of all he could expect from me, in as ample a Testimonial of his Behaviour as I thought he was entitled to : if (I say) after these
Journal - stuffed with disagreeable matters.
Defiance of authority shown.
Relating to Mr. Norris's character.
88
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
things, he shall be found joyning with the late labal here, to raise accusations against honest men, and in petitioning the Throne to take this Colony into its own Protection, because They were not pleased with the honourable Trustees : I must then leave it to others to think of him as they see cause. During the time of the Con- clave, he thought fit wholly to estrange himself from me : wh I could readily have found a sort of excuse for in his favour; those Gentry keeping a good table, & living much more plentifully, than the ordinary way in Georgia will admit of; and he who says Grace is entitled to a share: but if he employed himself so busily in promot- ing that Petition, as I heard by one who had sign'd it, & who told me Mr. Norris read it to him, & gave it him to sign: in such case what must we think of W. Norris? The Truth of this must certainly appear in due time, whether he is chargeable with it or not.
Mr. Norris busy in pro- moting a Petition.
A few samples of madness reigning.
Let me send you a few Samples of what Mad- ness seems to reign here among us; to that De- gree as might entitle us (I think) to be One of the Out Wards of Bedlam.
Mr. Duch- ee's Peti. tion or Proposal.
M' Duchees Petition, or Proposal (I know not what to call it) I conceive deserves the Pre- eminence : wrh is humbly submitted to the opin- ion of the honourable Trust. I happend to ob- tain Coppy of it: & he is preparing personally to back it, and shew forth its reasonableness, & great utility before their Honours.
Thomas Ellis's Petition.
The next is a Petition of Thomas Ellis, said to be offerd to the Trust; wch I also made shift
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CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
to get a Coppy of ; & have taken upon me to make such Observations on as in Conjunction with Mr Jones I can warrant.
The last is of such a nature, that I am at a loss what term to give it; uncertain whether 'twill excite Indignation or Ridicule : but it may be requisite, to open the occasion a little, of such an elaborate Production from our renowned Knt. You'll find, among my daily Notes, a little difference arising, betwixt Mess" Parker and Jones; which gave the Adversarys to both, an occasion of hoping they might work up Parker, to come into such measures as they were upon; & they so far prevailed with him as to sup with 'em once or twice; in weh time, finding what lengths they were running, he had enough of it; & went near 'em no more: many Invitations, & entreatys, were used, in vain, to get him into their Schemes; the Kn' promising, yt whatever he would ask, to make him easy under his nar- row circumstances, should immediately be given (which could be from none but Messrs de Beau- faine or Mackay) but he honestly withstood all such temptations, and adhered stedfastly to his Duty under the honourable Trust ; opposing not only their Designs at the late Court, with great calmness & resolution; by discharging that Grand Jury; but likewise in all things else con- demning their Proceedings as unwarrantable : This drew upon him their deep resentment; & He whom so lately they courted, now became one of their principal Objeets of hatred & Malice : in which Light we must look on our Knt
An attempt to get Mr. Parker into scheme.
Opposed designs by discharging Grand Jury.
90
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
Thos. Rob- erts given chance to reform, but stealing again.
Thos. Rob. erts de- livered into custody of Capt. Kent.
Two of Mr. Stephens' servants' time expired.
at the time of his departure, when he left the paper behind him, weh this is a Coppy of, in form of a letter, directed to M' Parker, to be conveyd to him (as it was) by their trusty Agent Will Ewen .- But I shall tire you and my self too, in dwelling on these things; & shall only add a few words of that young unparalleld Villain Thom Roberts, whom I wrote you of at large lately, & acquainted you that I was then putting him on his last Triall at Bewlie; hoping, so remote from the Town, he might be weaned from his Roguery, & reform a little; but from thence also, in a short time he made his escape, got to Town again, & was taken (as formerly) lurking under the Houses, & committing daily. Felonys: wherefore Capt Kent, being then in Town from Augusta, & willing to try what he could do with him; I was very glad to deliver him into his custody; from whence it is to be hoped he cannot stray among Nations of Bar- barians: and the Capt understands Discipline. If he reforms, I may have him again when I will: but That failing, his death were to be wishd for in the course of nature, the sooner the better, rather than an untimely and shamefull End- Two of my Servants times are now out : whereof' Arth Binks is one who was a Ladys Footman at Kensington & indented at the Office : the first half of his time he proved very bad : but the 2 last years he was much mended. All the rest. except one Boy, will be free in 2 or 3 months more. Unless I can happily find means to get 2 or 3 others in their Steads, I fear
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