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.

266 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [1784.
increasing value of the land, is very speculative; and to leave it to
the parties, or their representatives, or to persons to be chosen by
them, at like stated periods to determine the increase of it, would
not only be vague and uncertain, but more than probably open a
door for many disputes, and prove very unsatisfactory to both sides.
Yet, difficult as the case is, private and public considerations urging
me thereto, I have come to a resolution, which I am going to promulge in the gazettes of this country, by inserting an advertisement
of which the enclosed'is a copy, leaving it optional in the grantees
to make choice of either.
Whether the terms there promulged are sufficiently encouraging
to the people of this country, and inviting to strangers; or whether
the latter might think so in the first instance, and change sentiments afterwards, upon seeing a wide, a wild, and an extensive
country before them, in which they may, for ought I know, obtain
good, though not so valuable and pleasant spots upon easier terms,
is not with me to decide. Experiment alone can determine it. But
it is for me to declare, that I cannot think of separating for ever
from lands, which are beautifully situated upon navigable rivers, rich
in quality, and abundantly blessed with many natural advantages,
upon less beneficial terms to myself.
The leases for short tenures, if these should be preferred to either
of the other two, could be attended with no great injury to me,
because the improvements, which (according to the conditions of
them) are to be made thereon, will enable me, if I am not too sanlguine in my expectation, to rent them thereafter upon more lucrative terms, than I dare ask for either of the other two at present.
It has been my intention in every thing I have said, and will be
so in every thing I shall say on this subject to be perfectly candid;
for my feelings would be as much hurt, if I should deceive others
by a too favorable description, as theirs would be who might suffer
by the deception.
I will only add, that it would give me pleasure to see these lands
seated by particular societies, or religious sectaries with their pastors. It would be a means of connecting friends in a small circle,
and making life in a new and rising empire (to the inhabitants
of which, and their habits, new comers would be strangers) pass
much more agreeably than in a mixed or dispersed situation.
If a plan of this sort should be relished, it would be highly expedient for an agent in behalf of such societies to come out immediately, to.view the lands and close a bargain; for nothing is
more probable, than that each of the tracts here enumerated may,