William R. Dickinson letter to Thomas Rotch, Steubenville, Sept 11th 1817

              B-46-14
page 1

                                 Steubenville Sept 11, 1817
Respected Friend
Thomas Rotch

                                    Had the weaher proved good my wife and me were to have gone to Mount Pleasant for the purpose of begging you and my good friend Charity to come and spent a day or two with us, as it is howver her going is out of the questions, and I am almos affraid that the continued rains will prevent evening journeying that far. I still flatter myself tho that I shall be with you the evening after you receive this scrawl, which I am driven rather by misfortune to write to you.
       A youngman by the name of Davis, has drawn in your name a quarter section of land which I sold to Clark Harrington some time ago for six dollars per acre, to where i bound myself under a heavy penalty to make a title; which if I feel to make will expse me to a veratious and troublesome law suit, not to mention damages, and although I have made honorable overtures to Mr Davis, they have been unhesitatingly rejected, and I am therefore compelled to appeal to you to do me that "Justice which fortune hat placed it in your power to do me. I do most solemnly affirm, under the pains and penalties of perjury, that the forefeited was an involuntary act that I had never seen the list of lands advertised untill half past two OClk on the day they were forfeited, when, it was too late for me to pay up the balance due to the United States. I do not believe that Thomas Rotch will permit his name to be prostrated to the base purpose of injuring his friend and