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Judith is sure Augustine's family will be very happy in Fauquier. Mr. Alexander's health is poor. Their overseer "keeps the hands active by a natural authority without severity." Would like his advice as to Dr. Crawford's estate. Describes her money problems.

This agreement between George Washington and Penelope French secured for his use the last piece of property he added to his Mount Vernon estate, a parcel that would become part of Union Farm. French, who had a life in interest in the land and buildings, also leased to Washington the use of twenty-one enslaved people including "Will, Paschal, Paul, Abraham, Sabine, Rosanna, Daphne, Lucy, Delia, Grace, Tom, Isaac, Robert, Moses, Julius, Spencer, Nancy, Celia, Nell, Mitty, and Lett", and three young children not named. The agreement stipulated that Washington must ensure the enslaved were "clothed and fed in the same manner as slaves usually are within this commonwealth and shall not be removed and worked out of the said county of fairfax", and is "unreasonably worked or neglected in sickness or treated within humanity", they would be returned to French.

This is a record of the work done at the various farms making up George Washington's Mount Vernon, reporting the number of hours worked by which workers, just what was being done on each farm during a particular week. Farms include Dogue Run, Ferry Plantation, Muddy Hole, River Plantation, and Frenchs Plantation (or Frenchs Quarter). Work by tailors, carpenters, shoemakers, coopers, ditchers, and millers are recorded separately. Includes "Fairfaxs Report on House People" for several weeks. Begins November 1786 and ends in April 1787. At the end of the volume there is a document titled "Memorandum of things delivered to the different Plantations from the 12th of Apl. 1786, 1786 April 12-August 31" that begins at the last page and works its way back toward the center of the volume. This used to be bound, but has since been unbound and is just leaves.

Autograph letter signed. Warrenton. Shackleford writes to accept Augustine's offer for the purchase of two enslaved boys named Bob and Armistead for $1200 each.

A.L.S. 2 pages. Can write oftener now--post leaves regularly--everyone sick--Miss Butler Thornton died of sore throat--Fanny's health improved by nursing George--sending Betsy to Fredericksburg for education--[Fanny is his wife and G.A.W.'s sister]--house not finished--has partnership in store at Germana--hopes to complete mills by winter next year--advises G.A.W. to build store or warehouses on his land--" ... anythg. is preferable to an Estate in Land and negroes, which are not only unprofitable, but vexatious and troublesome"--should sell land for certificates--Col. [Wm.] Washington wrote that G.A.W. was well. Autograph letter signed, integral cover, laminated, docketed by G. A. W.Name on original manuscript appears as "B. Ball".

George A. Washington writes about how he didn't write sooner because George Washington had just left Mt. Vernon -- will be more prompt with reports hereafter -- unable to complete the barn for the stock because of many other jobs for Carpenters & their illness -- some progress made on barn.

River frozen--hasn't yet seen Mr. Marshall or Mr. Triplett about land exchange--thinks it bad scheme to raise hogs to take care of surplus corn--pork prices low--well keeps caving in, perhaps will have to ask instructions as to where to dig a new one--good negro shoemaker available from Adams--conduct of negroes--better sell bay or stop using him for breeding--hurts him to see miller and mill idle.