[Address leaf] James M^cHenry Esq^r Philadelphia [Docket notation, inverted:] Nashville [seal] 22 May [17]9[undecipherable] / [undecipherable] his letter / [undecipherable] No. Allen James M^cHenry Esq Nashville Cumberland sett. 22^d May 1795 D^r Sir, I had the pleasure of addressing to you two letters from Lynchburg to which they have to refer, Since that time I pursuant to my intention, I have taken a pretty long trip of it; and notwithstanding that I came to this Country in the expectation of seeing good Land, I must acknowledge that it has exceeded that expectation; and whether you view this Country as capable of affording all the necessaries of life in abundance or from its other local advantages, it is worthy of a decided preference to that of Tennessee which has been so much cried up. From the best Observations that I am capable of making the Climate too appears to be more desireable (embracing all human constitutions) than any other in North America. About 12 months ago, you might buy the best land in this Country for a 9^th dollar ⁋ acre that is, unless it was in the settlement, or improved: but when I speak of improvements, you are not to expect that the land should be in a high state of improvement or that costly buildings should be erected on it — the truth is, that there are no Buildings in this State, a very few excepted, but log Cabins; times altered for the better tho, the existing peace with the Indian tribes, and a prospect of the continuance of it, have encouraged the people to begin to settle their Lands. The sickness that that has prevailed in the Upper as well as lower parts of Georgia, the Scarcity of Provisions in it & S. Carolina relative to its novelty in the former, the desire that most people to settle upon good land where they can have the benefit of an extensive range, the frequency of Rheumatisms in Kentucky, and the local want of range for the Cattle, have all contributed to that deluge of emigration that seems to exist. It is supposed that when the enumeration took place a few months ago, that the number of Souls was doubled to their proportion the year before, it is supposed that about 73.000 of the 77. thousand were (the State) were the No. of Souls in Cumberland, and it appears no unreasonable conjecture, to predict that this No. will be doubled by this time next year. of emigration Lands have risen. they now ask a dollar for Lands out of this settlement, and from 2 to 4 ⁋ for Lands within it, according to the improvement or local Advantages attending the situation; those within the Indian boundarys they ask a 9^th dollar for. Since I have come to this Country, along with attending to my own matters I have been studiously engaged in collecting such Materials as might become Objects of Speculation, and which have been obtained from the only sources that could be depended on, to wit: the inspection of the Entry Books of John Armstrong, & of Martin & Armstrong, the Surveyors of N. Carolina; from these I have the Original Claims, where the surveys lie, and in what Quantities, what of them are Surveyed, and what are Not. From the Surveyors I know their Qualities, what are within the Indian lines, and what of them are without, and where the Patentee resides. There are and will be many disputes and Litigations about titles to Land, but when a person has the examination of the entry books (Virginia titles only may be selected). There are of both these (Offices,) locations & entries made and the land not yet surveyed; there will in many cases be considered as only selling the Warrant. Also as there are many of the earliest locations in this situation, the probability is, that the same are of the best kind independent of the information I have already given as to their situation & value. Not long since (6 months ago) there was a vast number of Militia Warrants in N. Carolina, but since that, many of them have been purchased up, the prices various according to convenience, from 10 to 100 ⁋ for the Militia right of a private to 640 Acres (and so on in proportion to the highest ranks) and then as so soon as it was surveyed would sell for 6 ⁋ [undecipherable] for locating and surveying small quantities it has been common to give ⅓, but in many cases upon inspection of the books, these warrants were found to be Located; so that the proprietor was at no other expense or trouble but the Ordinary Fees. Of these lands that are Surveyed I know and have an accurate acc^t of all the valuable tracts, both within & without the line; the holders of which chiefly reside in North Carolina, & in the compact of which I am very well assured that purchases may be made to very great advantage. As to what may be inferred by the Claimants to claims within the Indian lines, you must be better acquainted with than I can possibly be, but just at the moment on the face of those Claimants. As the nineteenth part of my property lies within this State, I am about bringing myself to a determination of removing to it. And should you wish to avail yourself of the information herein contained, I will most chearfully exert myself for the purpose of its turning out to your advantages. And I am the more inclined to engage in it, being convinced that it is the best Land Speculation that will prove in our times. If we revert to the recent determination of Congress as to the Sales of vacant Lands in the N. W. territory, it cannot be considered out of the way. Lands herein alluded to, & to be sold at 10 $ an acre in a very few yrs. the Lands in the N. W. Territory is to sell at not less than 2 Dollars; perhaps when the S. office is open for the Sale of land in the S. W. country, it may possibly be as high; and it must be a Matter Perfectly clear that locations may be made upon this rich Lands, by [undecipherable] none but the worst remains. I would sooner give 5 $ an acre for Lands surveyed 12 Y^rs ago, than I could give One dollar for that not yet surveyed. Look to the State of Kentucky and it will justify the Observations of the increasing value of Lands. 7 Y^rs ago, Lands were bought there from a ⁋ to 4¼ dollar an Acre, now it sells for 20 to [undecipherable] Dollars. I could add some further remarks in support of my opinion, which chiefly arise, from a review of the Soil and the local situation of the Country; but your own Penetration will suggest to you; such as you may think proper to adopt. There are many kinds of Land speculations, but this is one of the honorable kind, where no future purchaser will ever be deceived as to the Quality; speaking of which, I may be leave to add, that First Rate Land, being 75 Bushells Corn to the Acre, 2^d rate 60 & [undecipherable] rate 40. Others here will tell you of quality Crops, and certain it is, that the Land is capable of producing more, by proper cultivation. But my quotation only refers to what is actually made. So that I think unless the Almighty cut off his favours with a most liberal hand towards this Country, for we see the [undecipherable] production of [undecipherable] Munificence [undecipherable] idea in endowing this Country adequate to all human Wants. In fine, should you or any friend of yours think proper to invest any property in this way, you may command my services freely. And without any compensation till the expiration of 3 or 6 yrs at such time it will be evident that such compensation will be a very small proportion of the proportion of the profit it will yield. As upon any given proportion. Among the [undecipherable: probable reading "plans"] I have been at since I left home, is Tellico Block-house on the Tenasee, at S. W. Point — (known by the name of Fort defiance) at the junction of Clinch & Tenasee, at Fort Granger, on Holstein, where the Tenasee unites with it, and at Fort Blount on the Cumberland River. At those inspection forts are stationed about 15 Men. Altho not under that regular discipline or subordination as might be expected; many of them lying about chiefly, from which a body might be apt to infer, that supporting those Garrisons were useless & unnecessary, but the fact is otherwise. I think them highly necessary, and very proper barriers between the Whites & [Pages missing]