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. 377
the proclamation aforementioned; but even of these
claims, if I could get lands equally as good, as convenient, and as valuable in every respect, elsewhere, I
should choose to steer clear.
Old David Wilper, who was an officer in our regiment, and has been with Bullitt running out land for
himself and others, tells me, that they have already
discovered four salt springs in that country, three of
which Captain Thompson has included within some surveys he has made; and the other, an exceedingly valuable one, upon the River Kentucky, is in some kind of dispute. I wish I could establish one of my surveys there;
I would immediately turn it to an extensive public benefit, as well as private advantage. However, as four are
already discovered, it is more than probable there are
many others, and if you could come at the knowledge
of them by means of the Indians, or otherwise, I would
join you in taking them up in the name or names of
some persons, who have a right under the proclamation,
and whose right we can be sure of buying, as it seems
there is no other method of having lands granted;
but this should be done with a good deal of circumspection and caution, till patents are obtained.
I did not choose to forego the opportunity of writing
to you by the gentlemen, who are going to divide their
land at the mouth of the great Kenhawa, though I could
wish to have delayed it till I could hear from the Governor, to whom I have written, to know certainly whether he will grant patents for the land which Captain Bullitt is surveying, that one may proceed with safety; as
also whether a discretionary power, which I had given
Mr. Wood to select my land in West Florida, under an
information, even from his Lordship himself, that lands
could not be had here, would be any bar to my survey.
ing on the Ohio; especially as I have heard since
VOL. II. 48 FF