The Agricultural Papers of George Washington 87 



measure, founded on my own experience of the disadvantage 

 it is to the lessor, in a country where lands are rising every 

 year in value. As an instance in proof, about twenty years 

 ago I gave leases for three lives, in land I held above the 

 Blue Mountains, near the Shenandoah River, seventy miles 

 from Alexandria, or any shipping-port, at a rent of one 

 shilling per acre, no part being then cleared ; and now land of 

 similar quality in the vicinity, with very trifling improvements 

 thereon, is renting currently at five and more shillings per 

 acre, and even as high as eight. 



My motives for letting this estate having been avowed, I 

 will add, that the whole, except the Mansion-House Farm, or 

 none, will be parted with, and that upon unequivocal terms ; 

 because my object is to fix my income, be it what it may, 

 upon a solid basis in the hands of good farmers; because I 

 am not inclined to make a medley of it ; and, above all, be 

 cause I could not relinquish my present course without a 

 moral certainty of the substitute which is contemplated ; for 

 to break up these farms, remove my negroes, and dispose of 

 the property on them upon terms short of this, would be 

 ruinous. 



Having said thus much, I am disposed to add further, that 

 it would be in my power, and certainly it would be my in 

 clination, upon the principle above, to accommodate the 

 wealthy, or the weak-handed farmer, and upon reasonable 

 terms, with draught-horses, and working mules and oxen; 

 with cattle, sheep, and hogs ; and with such implements of 

 husbandry, if they should not incline to bring them them 

 selves, as are in use on the farms. On the four farms there 

 are fifty-four draught-horses, twelve working mules, and a 

 sufficiency of oxen, broke to the yoke; the precise number I 

 am unable this moment to ascertain, as they are compre 

 hended in the aggregate of the black cattle. Of the latter, 



