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.

APPENDIX.] MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 317
TO PRESLEY NEVILLE.
Philadelphia, 16 June, 1794.
SIR,
I should have written to you at an earlier period, but for the
extreme hurry into which I was thrown at the close of the session of Congress, which did not terminate before Monday last,
and from my not having adverted, in time, to the Pittsburg postday of last week. This letter, as I shall set out for Virginia to —
morrow, is left to go by next Saturday's mail.
Enclosed is a blank power, authorizing Mr. Charles Morgan, or
any other with whose name you shall fill it, to collect the rents
arising from my land in Fayette and Washington counties, in this
State, together with such arrearages as may be due for the preceding years, if any there be. Another blank is also left, which
I pray you to fill up with the per centage to be allowed, as a compensation for the trouble and expense of collection. The inducements to this are, first, because I do not recollect what Colonel
Cannon has been allowed for his services; and, secondly, because
there is no invariable allowance established, places and circumstances varying it.
A letter for Colonel Cannon is also enclosed, requesting him to
give the necessary information to his successor, and to desire that
he would discontinue all further agency in my business. This
letter is left open for your insertion of the name of his successor.
The emolument arising from this collection is too' trifling to become an object worthy of your acceptance, or I should never have
inquired for another before I had offered it to you.
From the experience of many years, I have found distant property in land more pregnant of perplexities than profit; I have,
therefore, resolved to sell all I hold on the Western waters, if I
can obtain the prices which I conceive their quality, their situation, and other advantages would authorize me to expect. Conversing with Mr. Ross, one of your senators, on this subject a
day or two before he left the city, he gave it to me as his opinion,
that the present juncture was favorable for the sale of my land in
this State; and was so obliging as to offer his services to effect it.
He thought the quality of my land in Fayette county, together
with the improvements and show of iron ore within less than thirty
yards of the mill door, ought on credit to command six dollars.
The other I have always held at four dollars. The former tract
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