GUNSTON HALL, February 17th, 1775.

DEAR SIR :

I returned from Maryland but last night, not being able to leave Mrs. Eilbeck sooner, and don't know how quickly I may be called there again, as I think she is far from being out of danger.

I will if I can be at Alexandria on Monday ; but it is uncertain, as well for the reason above-mentioned, as that I am at this time unwell with a bad cold and a little pain in my breast.

I can't conceive how Mr. Harper could make such a mistake as to buy double the quantity of powder wanted for this county, when he had the order in writing signed by you and me. If there is any ambiguity in the said writing (for I don't now recollect the words) by which Mr. Harper might be led into such a mistake, I think we are in honor bound to take the whole off his hands; otherwise it does not appear to me that he can reasonably expect it ; though I am exceedingly concerned that any kind of misunderstanding should happen in an affair which must have given Mr. Harper a good deal of trouble, and which I am convinced was undertaken by him merely from public motives, and a desire to oblige the Committee. I remember your mentioning in conversation, to Mr. Harper, an application made to you from London County to procure a quantity of powder for their Committee, upon six months' credit, and telling him if it could be purchased in Philadelphia upon such credit you would see the money paid when it became due ; to which he answered that powder was generally a ready-money article there, and at this time in particular he did not imagine it could be got upon credit. I speak from recollection (having had no concern in the affair), but as nearly as I can remember this is the substance of what passed between you and him respecting the Loudon Committee, and may possibly have occasioned the mistake ; at least I can account for it in no other way.

I have already paid Messrs. McCrea and Maire half their account. And my half the money due to Mr. Harper for the articles ordered for Fairfax County, is at any minute ready, having kept a sum in gold by me for that purpose, that Mr. Harper should not be disappointed in the payment; but if it will be attended with no inconvenience to him, it will suit me better to make the payment ten days hence than now, because I think in that time I can collect good part of the money from the people, and as the collection will be partly in paper dollars and Pennsylvania money, which, from Mr. Harper's connections to the Northward, may suit him as well, or perhaps better than gold, yet it will not replace the gold with equal convenience to me. I mention this only as matter of mutual convenience, at the same time making a point not to disappoint Mr. Harper ; and I must beg the favor of you to communicate this to him, that I may send up the money whenever he wants it, without giving him any trouble on the subject.

I shall send my son George out immediately to make what collection he can, being furnished with a list of Tythables for that purpose. If you incline to do anything of that kind, you shall have a copy of the list, distinguishing those who have paid to him. I think this method will reimburse us sooner, and save commissions and trouble to the sheriff.

I had gone a good way through the bill for improving the navigation of Potowmack before I went to Maryland, and am happy in finding that I had fallen into many of Mr. Johnston's sentiments, though I was a stranger to them, till I received your letter upon my return last night. I wish it was in my power to spend a day with him on the subject. Some of his remarks are not so intelligible to me as they would be if I had all the queries which he seems to answer. What he mentions of some kind of jealousy least the Virginians should have some advantage, and that there should be some equality between the Maryland and Virginia subscriptions, I can have no idea of. What matter is it whether the majority of the subscribers are Marylanders or Virginians, if their property is put upon an equal footing, and the work is of general advantage to both provinces ? Nor can I think his notion of proportioning the tolls to the average profits can well be reduced to practise. A sufficient sum can't be raised by those only who are locally interested ; men who are not will not advance their money upon so great a risk, but with views of great and increasing profit, not to depend upon future alterations. The tolls, to be sure, must be moderate, such as the commodities will bear, with advantage to the makers. It is probable for some years they will yield very little profit to the undertakers, perhaps none ; they must run the risk of this, as well as of the utter failure of the undertaking, and surely if they succeed, they have a just right to the increased profits, though in process of time they may become very great. If I am not misinformed, this is the principle upon which everything of this nature has been successfully executed in other countries. My paper will not permit me to add more at present than that I am,

Dear Sir,

Your affectionate and obedient servant,

G. MASON.

Source: The Papers of George Mason, Gunston Hall Plantation