Thomas Walter letter to Thomas Rotch, Philadelphia, 6 Mo 4th 1817

              B-201-2
                             Philada 6 Mo 4th 1817
    Esteemed Friend
               Thy obliging Communication
  of the 16th alt. I have recd, and thy kind Invita-
  tion "Should there be any other information thou
  wouldst wish, please make thy enquiry" encourages
  me to trouble thee again with a few more Questions. etc.
  to which, when convenient, thou wilt please reply.
      I have been told that 60 acres of said land has been 
  cleared- Dost thou know this to be the case? How many
  houses in the Town of Kendal, and what is its computed
  distance from Lake Eri? Is there Clay in the vicinity
  of Kendal suitable for making Bricks? At what distance
  from the Land in question, may Stone-Coal or Limestone
  be found? Is the Sugar Maple plenty in the neighbourhood?
  Are there any families settled contiguous to said Land; if there
  are, of what description of people?
     Couldst thou speak of the land, from thy own actual
  knowledge of it, I should be able to decide at once; for several
  concurring circumstances induce me to think I should not be
  in consequence of thy favourable Recommendation of that part
  of the country,
     With respect to the attachments of myself & family to this
  city; I shall only say, we have several near relations and many
  friends, with whom we should not, for an uncertain or imag-
  inary good, be willing to part.
       I'll now tell thee in what manner the greater of of my
  time has been spent. About 12 years at farming, 5 years
  in Grist & Saw Mills, Six months in a Trip to New Orleans &