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.

PART I.] PRIVATE LETTERS. 347
granted, when once it is known, that rights are to be
had.
The mode of proceeding I am at a loss to point out
to you; but, as your own lands are under the same circumstances, self-interest will naturally lead you to an
inquiry. I am told, that the land or surveyor's office is
kept at Carlisle. If so, I am of opinion that Colonel
Armstrong, an acquaintance of mine, has something to
do in the direction of it, and I am persuaded he would
readily serve me. I will write to him by the first opportunity on that subject, that the way may be prepared
for your application to him, if you find it necessary.
For your trouble and expense you may depend on being repaid. It is possible, but I do not know that it
really is the case, that the custom in Pennsylvania will
not admit so large a quantity of land, as I require, to be
entered together; if so, this may perhaps be arranged
by making several entries to the same amount, if the
expense of doing it is not too heavy. This I only drop
as a hint, leaving the whole to your discretion and good
management. If the land can only be secured from
others, it is all I want at present. The surveying I
would choose to postpone, at least till the spring, when,
if you can give me any satisfactory account of this matter, and of what I am next going to propose, I expect to
pay you a visit about the last of April.
I offered in my last to join you, in attempting to secure some of the most valuable lands in the King's part,
which I think may be accomplished after a while, notwithstanding the proclamation, that restrains it at present, and prohibits the settling of them at all; for I can
never look upon that proclamation in any other light
(but this I say between ourselves), than as a temporary
expedient to quiet the minds of the Indians. It must
fall, of course, in a few years, especially when those In