3

appeared here last week with authentic papers
sustaining older grants than the one of the Estill grants
with which the Sewanee Co. helt title
and after search the Corner & the marked lines of these
tracts have been found, located by je as shown
on the accompanying plat,
which embrace 1750 acres exclusive of the older
tracts as indicated on the plat.

Knowing that delay is dangerous, I proceeded at once to make the best
bargain I could to prevent excessive rates if payale & succeeded in obtaining
a written obligation from the agent
of the Claimant (who assured me he was clothed
with authority,) to
sell the land in question for the use of the University
at $1 per acre, ato which he stood bound until the next meeting of the Trustees.

I then went to Winchester
hoping to find some flaw in the [?] claim, but to
my sorrow to the astonishment of the party
who [?] by the survey could, after a
thorough examination of the Entry Books &c
it was conceded that the Thompson
Entry under which the claim is [?] older
than the Estell Entry - but it is hoped that [?]
[?] under possession may be brought [?]
against the Claim - But as soon as the attempt
is made to do a long & tedious lawsuit will
be the conveyance