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be taken at that time & place and forward by post or otherwise in time for Court
I am Dr Sir with sentiments of [E?] yours &c W. Slade
Wm Slade July 5. 1800
Gavin Alves Esqr Hillsborough
Nashville 10th July 1800
Dr Sir I hoped you had long since received my answer to your favor on the subject of the appointment the board of Trustees had conferred on me, but am empowered by Mr. Toole that some miscarriage has taken place, though I hope it will reach you before this.
I have accepted of the appointment and proceeded in engaging [recovery?] of part of the land, which I expect will shortly be finished and shall continue until it is all done. I am applying money to this [?] recd from Mr Alves which I supposed was $100 dols of the money [?] mentioned, as Mr Alves said he understood another equal sum had been remitted which however was not the case. Should this money be intended for taxes, I must reimburse out of the two hundred dollars in your hands, which sum it will be necessary for you to forward as early as may be so that I may be enabled to finish the
business before [?] -- I shall attend to Surveying most of the tracts, as I cannot so entirely rely on any surveyor as to believe they will not in a measure neglect the full object of the Trustees.
I shall endeavor to do the business as low as circumstances will admit of and shall not make a charge but for actual duty performed, and hope the amount will meet with the entire approbation of the board when they consider that the lands are 60 (and upwards) miles from my place of residence which will consequently take up much of my time and be attended with expense to me.
[?] need not be expected that will be worth the having unless they can have the land 5, 6, or 7 years for stipulated improvements, as that is customary here.
It will be more in my power to give you a statement of the property of the University after investigating some [inferences?], which is my first object. In the mean time think [it?] would be advisable to use every endeavor to find out from [McCampbell?] & wife of Richmond in Surry County that has become of [brother?] Colgreave’s land warrant
and get it together with the [Resolution?] of the Houses of Assembly which gave it to Grant. I am going in about three or four weeks to try to find that land as it has never yet been discovered, the Locator being dead the only means I can now pursue is to get an estimate acquaintance of his and a good woodsman to go with me in search of the improvement, or specialty, called for. This will be an expensive business but will be better to be subjected to than loosing upwards of 2400 acres of land.
There is a deed for 228 acres of land joining Kuykendalls on the waters of Manskers or Gaspers Creek, that was conveyed by [Evens?] or his Executors to Charles Gerard, it was sent back from him, to be properly proven so that it might be Recorded. The way to do this, by our laws, is to have it proven or acknowledged in a court of Record in your state -- let the Clerk certify this under his Seal of Office, and the presiding Judge