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.

586 WASHINGTON'S WILL. [APPENDIX.
(y) It is supposed that the shares in the James River Company must be productive. But of this I can give no decided opinion, for want of more accurate
information.
(z) These are the nominal prices of the shares in the Banks of. Alexandria
and Columbia; the selling prices vary according to circumstances; but, as the
stocks usually divide from eight to ten per cent per annum, they must be worth
the former, at least, so long as the banks are conceived to be secure, although
from circumstances they may sometimes be below it.
The value of the live stock depends more upon the quality than quantity of
the different species of it, and this again upon the demand, and judgment or
fancy of purchasers.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Mount Vernon, July 9, 1799.
END OF VOL. I.