The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

584 WASHINGTON'S WILL. [APPENDI.
(f) Thistractisofsecond-rate Gloucester low ground. It has noiprovemens thereon but lies on navigable water, abounding in fish and oysters. It
was received in payment of a debt, (carrying interest,) and valued in the year
1789, by an impartial gentleman, at ~800. N. B. It has lately been sold, and
there is due thereon a balance, equal to what is annexed in the schedule.
These 373 acres are the third part of an undivided purchase made by the
deceased Fielding Lewis, Thomas Walker, and myself, on full conviction that
they would become valuable. The land lies on the road from Suffolk and Nor
folk, touches (if I am not mistaken) some part of the navigable water of Nansemond River. The rich Dismal Swamp is capable oP great improvement, and
from its situation must become extremely valuable.
(.) This is an undivided interest, which I hold in the Great Dismal Swamp
Company, containing about 4000 acres, with my part of the plantation and stock
thereon, belonging to the Company in the said swamp.
(i) These several tracts of land are of the first quality, on the Ohio River, in
the parts where they are situated; being almost, if not altogether, river botts.
The smallest of these tracts is actually sold at ten dollars an acre, but the consideration therefor not received. The rest are equally valuable, and sold as
high; especially that which lies just below the Little Kenhawa, and is opposite
to a thick settlement on the west side of the river. The four tracts have an
aggregate breadth upon the river of sixteen miles, and are bounded thereby for
that distance.
(k) These tracts are situated on the Great Kenhawa River, and the first four
are bounded thereby for more than forty miles. It is acknowledged by all who
have seen them, (and of the tract containing 10,990 acres, which I have been on
myself, I can assert,) that there is no richer or more valuable' land in all that
region. They are conditionally sold for the sumn mentioned in the schedule, that
is, 200,000 dollars; and, if the terms of that sale are niot complied with, they will
command considerably more. The tract, of which the 125 acres is a moiety, was
taken up by General Andrew Lewis and myself, for and on account of a bituminous spring which it contains, of so inflammable a nature as to burn as freely
as spirits, and is nearly as difficult to extinguish.
(i) I am buit little acquainted with this- land, although I have once been on it.
It was received (many years'Since) in discharge of a debt to me from Daniel
Jenifer Adams, at the value'annexed thereto, and must be worth more. It is
very level; lies near the river-Potomac.
(in) This tract lies about thirty miles above the city of Washington, not far
from Kittoctan. It is good farming land; and, by those who are well acqeainted
with it. I am informed that it would sell at twelve or fifteen dollars per acre.
(n) This land is valuable on account of its local situation, and other properties.' It affords an exceeding good stand on Braddock's Road from Fort Cumberland to Pittsburg, and, besides a fertile soil, possesses a large quantity of
natural meadow, fit for the scythe. It is distinguished by the appellation of the
Great Meadows, where the first action with the French in 1754 was fought.
(o) This is the mnoiety of about 2000 acres, which remains unsold of 6071
acres on the Mohawk River, (Montgomery County,) in a patent granted to Daniel
Coxe, in the township'of Coxborough a'nd Carolina, as will appear by deed from
Marinus Willett and wife to George Clinton, late governor of New York, and
myself. The latter sales have been at six dollars an acre, and what remains
unsold' will fetch that. or more.
(ip) The quality of these lands, and their situations, may be kenown by the