Mount Vernon, December 5, 1786.

    Dr. Sir: Your letters of the 15th of Octor. and 5th. of Novr. are both before me, and I shall reply to them in their order.

    For your trouble in negotiating my Certificate I thank you. If it is necessary, in order that you may receive the half yearly interest thereon, I would wish you to keep it; if you can draw this without, it may be returned to me. In the mean time, inform me if you please if this Certificate can be converted into cash, and upon what terms, that if I should have occasion to make any purchases in Philada., I may know the amount of this fund. The Indents, to the amount of 84 50/90 Dollars, I have received, and note the credit given me for the year and half interest.

    The Curtain stuff and nails are at hand safe, and will answer very well. The uncertainty of getting good Spring Barley (for I had made many fruitless enquiries in this State, and the parts of Maryland bordering on it, before I wrote to you) induced me to put the ground which I had first allotted for this grain, into Wheat and Rye; but if you could secure and send to me by one of the first vessels bound from your Port to Alexanda. fifty bushels, I will yet find as much ground as will receive this quantity of Seed; or if you have engaged 100 bushels of this grain from Reuben Haines as the expression of your letter seems to import, I will readily take it, but would not chuse to be under any promise of supplying him with the produce of it: first, because being uncertain of the yield, and inclining to go pretty largely upon it if I find it likely to answer my purpose, I shall want a good deal for Seed, and 2dly because the freight around, it is to be feared, would sink too deep in the sales to render me any profit upon a small quantity.