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.

APPENmIX.] EXTRACTS FROM A DIARY. 513
Wilson; but the Doctor, not getting it conducted agreeably to his own
taste, would claim no share of the merit of it.
21st.- Visited at Mr. Clifton's, and rode over his lands, but in an
especial manner viewed that tract called Brent's, which pleased me
exceedingly at the price he offered it at, viz. half a pistole an acre,
provided Colonel Carlyle's thrree hundred acres just below it could be
annexed at the same price; and this but a few months ago he offered
it at, but, now seeming to set a higher value upon it, and at the same
time putting on an air of indifference,- induced me to make Clifton
another offer for his land, viz. one thousand seven hundred pounds
currency for all his lands in the Neck, including his own plantation;
which offer he readily accepted, upon condition of getting his wife to
acknowledge her right of dower to it; and of his success in this he
was to inform me in a few days.
22d.- Waited on Lord Fairfax at Belvoir, and engaged him to
dine at Mount Vernon on Monday next.
26th. — Made an absolute agreement with Mr. Clifton for his land (so
far as depended upon him) on the following terms, to wit, I am to give
him one thousand one hundred and fifty pounds sterling for his Neck
lands, containing one thousand eight hundred and six acres, and to
allow him the use of this plantation he lives on till fall twelve months.
He on his part is to procure the gentlemen of Maryland, to whom his
lands are under mortgage, to join in a conveyance, and is to put me
in possession of the land so soon as this can be done; he is not to
cut down any timber, nor clear any ground, nor to use more wood,
than shall be absolutely riecesssary for fences and firing; neither is
he to assent to any alterations of tenants, or transferring of leases;
but, on the contrary, is to discourage every practice that has a tendency to lessen- the value of.the land. N. B. He is also to bring
Mr. Mercer's opinion concerning the validity of a private sale made
by himself. -Bottled thirty-five dozen of cider; the weather very
warm and cloudy with some rain last night.
29th. A very great circle round the moon.
lIarch 2d.- Mr. Clifton came here to-day, and, under pretence
of his wife's not consenting to acknowledge her right of dower,
wanted to disengage himself from the bargain he had made with me
for his land, on the 26th past.
6th. - Fitted a two-eyed plough, instead of a duck-bill plough,
and with much difficulty made my chariot wheel-horses plough.
7th.- Put the pole-end horses into the plough in the morning, and
put in the postilion and hind horse in the afternoon, but the ground
being well swarded over, and very heavy ploughing, I repented putVOL. II. 6.5