lands to certain individuals therein named, who made contracts of loan with Messrs Austin, Archer and Wharton. You will also find a copy of iny letter to them, from which you can easily discover, the nature of the difficulty between the Government and the contractors. You will observe the proposi- tions which are made at the end of that letter, and if they accede, your power authorizes you to issue Scrip for the land to the Corresponding amount. The relinquishment of preference or priority, over other purchasers, or claimants, is a sine qua non; the object of this Government being to put all upon an equal footing. This relinquishment, you will be careful to insert in the Scrip, in order that no further difficulty may arise in relation thereto. You will also insert, that the holders of the Scrip, are to pay the surveying fees etc. As evidence, of which I send you one of their blanks. Herein you will find a form, such as, we conceive, con- forms to the spirit of our contract. We earnestly hope, that every difficulty may now be obvia- ted, and that you may be enabled, to realize immediately the balance of the loan, which will amount to about one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. We regret exceedingly that the matter has been so long unadjusted, but we feel confident, that the contractors must be satisfied with our exposition. The propositions now made to them, must be acceded to or rejected without delay, as longer negotiation is to be avoided. We hope that you will able to sell, by virtur of your former power, a sufficient amount to answer our immediate exigencies. If you would prefer it, and think it would render sales more speedy, you can send blank scrip, down to us, which will be signed and returned immediately. In your last letter, we remark that you have advertised, that all audited claims will be received in payment for scrip. This is entirely too general, and will have a very unfavor- able influence. Audited accounts, and orders upon the Treasury, will be sent up, from this country, to large amounts. Scrip will be taken up, and the holders, anxious to _raise cash, will force our lands out of the market.
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