John Tyler, Sherwood Forest, Charles City County, Virginia, to Alexander Gardiner, [New York, New York?]

Sherwood Forest March 27. 1849 My Dear Sir; We reachd home on Saturday as my last letter from Richmond informed you we should do, and found your letter of the 15th with its enclosures awaiting my arrival. Fenton's account of matters is truly deplorable and yet there is that about them which leaves no room to doubt but that he is an honest man. I can well conceive his state of bewilderment arising from the effects of the [?] and his indebtedness. His error has consisted in not making more secure the fruits of his labour. Liable as the Country is to overflow, nothing should be left to hazard, but every core of wood as cut should be hauld to a place of safety. Even the point should have a table raisd on it so as to place the wood beyond the reach of the highest floods. These delays have occurd more frequently in the last two years than before. An annual flood was formerly lookd for in the spring upon the melting of the snow in the mountains and against its recurrence one might guard, but I am now convinced that summer crops and grass should claim the exclusive attention of the farmers in that region, under a suitable manager the results could not be adverse. It is obvious also that fences more permanent than those now and should be constructed. Our stab fences with the stabs such deep in the ground would answer, I doubt not. My own opinion you know has always been that farming operations on a limited scale, raising of hogs and some cattle, should accompany any other operation. What is best to be down with Fenton I really do not know what to advise. If he be, as I think him, an honest man, it would be important [?] if confind to the mere culture of the ground upon his own hook and for his own advantage. That he should remain. He could rent out other clearings and by encreasing the number of tenants might procure assistants in any work you might direct. [?] or Brown might do better and of that I leave you to judge. As to any disposition you may deem best to be made of the land I shall acquiesce. It is not only proper that I shd. do so considering that you have the larger interest, but I am convinces that my feelings will never [?] counter to your own about it. If you conclude to sell, I entirely concur and you may use my name in connection with any advertizement you make make. Of its ultimate value I no more doubt than of any fixd fact. From [?] to whom I wrote, I have nothing. This may arise from that fact that the person at whose request he formerly wrote, may desire to see the property before making an offer. The last mail brought the enclosd. To the writer I have replied cautiously concluding by stating that we recievd offers but did not make them and inviting his personal inspection of the property. To Mr. Smith I shall observe your suggestions. I send you also a letter from [?] from which I rejoice to learn that the [?] [?] into have been connected. I sent him the transfer from Judge Christian the first of this month, and my hope is that the title to the 50 acres will be completed in April. Sam Casey has gone to Washington which I regret. He was a faithful agent. From Pierson I have not one word. I wish it could be so that you could visit that country this spring. The expenses of the trip to and fro. would be inconsiderable. It may be however that [?] or Brown would be able to complete all things under precise instructions. In reading [?] history I was forceably struck by this passage," Meanwhile it was discoverd that the regions north of the Trent possessd in their coalbeds a source of wealth far more precious than the gold mines of Peru. It was found that in the neighborhood of there beds almost every manufacture might be most profitably carried on, a constant stream of emigrants began to roll northward" -1 Vol. Chap 3- I shall quote it to Smith. I hope you recievd my letter of the 23rd with the two checks, and that you had no difficulty in cashing them. We had a busy and merry time in Richmond when public feeling has undergone and is still undergoing a great change. Almost every day to a dinner party and something in the evening portion of the same night. I made the enquiry you desird but of those who did not profess to know much about it. This impressions as to the amount of property were different from mine and they estimated it as greatly less. I will prosecute the enquiry so soon as I can. Niether of the Lady [?] are alive. At the moment of writing we are in the midst of a furious snow storm. I hope when it subsides, that the spring will set in steadily. the peaches are blooming out and I fear for the fruit. Yrs. Truly J. Tyler