Philadelphia Feby. 15, 1791
My Dear Sir:
I have received your letter of the 5th, and have complyed with your request relative to the Bill in favor of Mr. Wilson and have accepted it to be laid two thirds in five per cent Stocks bearing on accruing interest and the other third in deferred five per cents.
Your reasons in favor of a present decision on the President’s message relative to the seat of government are cogent and with some others of considerable force occurred to me. But there measures must be managed by address and negotiation, and I am happy to find that it is now in a train to produce the desired success. As to the latitude of alteration desired by the Alexandrians, it is impracticable at present. Tho’ perhaps time may bring it ’t about; but I think the dissemination of ideas of this kind now by no means favorable to the general object: and some letters have been written by the N. England Gentlemen unfavorable to the healthfulness of the Eastside of the River, which, it would have been prudent, if well grounded, to have omitted at this time.
I am with Sincere esteem & affn.
Richard Bland Lee
[Written at bottom: “Rep. in Congress from Virginia from 1789 to 1795- Died 1827”]
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 2, M2009.077, Jessie Ball duPont Library, Stratford Hall
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2016 April 5
