John Jordan Crittenden, Frankfort, Kentucky, to Col. James Monroe, Aldie, Loudoun County, Virginia, 1828 October 1

Frankfort Octr: 1st 1828
Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 10th of September was duly received, & having within a few days after the pleasure of a casual visit from Capt: John Fowler, I was enabled to obtain full information upon the subject presented by your letter for enquiry. He assures me that your tract of 4000, or perhaps 4200 acres of land, on Licking was not conveyed to Coln: Nicholas—But that Nicholas had been satisfied with other lands, part of which at least was conveyed to him by my father in fulfillment of obligations that he was under to you—Capt: Fowler is confident, & you may be assured, that the tract above mentioned was not conveyed away to Nicholas.
At this late period you would be likely to meet with much difficulty in the legal assertion of your title—Without knowing any thing particularly of your claim, I would venture to recommend it to you to compromise, rather than to litigate, with interfering claimants & occupants—And, of course, to give adequate powers on this subject to the agent you may select—This mode will be the most summary, & in all probability the most profitable. Confined here by my professional engagements, I could not perform that sort of agency which would be useful in your case—I will take the liberty of suggesting Mr William Brown, of Cynthiana, Harrison County, as a very suitable agent—He is a m<ost> respectable & intelligent gentleman who was a member of Congress from this State during your Presidency, & may perhaps be remembered by you—He lives not remote, I suppose, from the land, & I can not doubt that he would serve you.
As to your Correspondent Mr Winn, if he is the man I suppose & believe him to be, I would advise you not to employ him—Speaking from reputation more than from any thing I personally know of him, I should say he is not worthy of your confidence.
It will at all times, Sir, give me great pleasure to serve you—And my earnest prayer shall be that your latter days may be as full of peace & happiness, as y our previous life has been of usefulness & honor.
I have the honor to be with great respect &c yr's &c
J J Crittenden
P. S. I have thought it best to return the letter of Mr Winn.
JJC