The Agricultural Papers of George Washington 99 



In this, however, I have hitherto found myself mistaken; 

 for at no period have I been more closely employed in re 

 pairing the ravages of an eight years absence. Engaging 

 workmen of different sorts, providing and looking after them, 

 together with the necessary attention to my farms, have oc 

 cupied all my time since I have been at home. 



I was far from entertaining sanguine hopes of success in 

 my attempt to procure tenants from Great Britain ; but, 

 being desirous of rendering the evening of my life as tranquil 

 and free from care as the nature of things would admit, I was 

 willing to make the experiment. 



Your observation, with respect to occupiers and proprie 

 tors of land has great weight, and, being congenial with my 

 own ideas on the subject, was one reason, though I did not 

 believe it would be so considered, why I offered my farms to 

 be let. Instances have occurred, and do occur daily, to prove 

 that capitalists from Europe have injured themselves by 

 precipitate purchases of free-hold estates, immediately upon 

 their arrival in this country, while others have lessened their 

 means in exploring States and places in search of locations; 

 whereas, if on advantageous terms they could have been first 

 seated as tenants, they would have had time and opportuni 

 ties to become holders of land, and for making advantageous 

 purchases. But it is so natural for man to wish to be the 

 absolute lord and master of what he holds in occupancy, that 

 his true interest is often made to yield to a false ambition. 

 Among these, the emigrants from the New England States 

 may be classed, and this will account, in part, for their mi 

 gration to the westward. Conviction of these things having 

 left little hope of obtaining such tenants as would answer my 

 purposes, I have had it in contemplation, ever since I returned 

 home, to turn my farms to grazing principally, as fast as 

 I can cover the fields sufficiently with grass. Labor, and of 



