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BENJN. HOUGH TO WORTHINGTON

Zanesville December 21st 1811

Dear Sir

I received yours of the 10th instant, enclosing Genl. Blounts memorandum - I hav attended to the contents of that memorandum and paid the taxes on the lands therein mentioned - the receipts for that part which is situated within this district you wil find enclosed in this, and for that part which is to be paid at Chillicothe, the re- ceipts have not yet arrived, but I presume they will come by the next mail - I have drawn thirty dollars from Genl. Vanhorn to pay those taxes, in addition to the sum I informed you of before - the taxes on the last memorandum amounted to $30.39 -

I have made diligent serch, to ascertain the situation of Dixon Marshals land; an find that Peter Mills had supposed that he owned, or had purchased lot 24, (for which he has been paying tax for 2 or 3 years,) and finding it charged to him I went to him for the purpose of redeeming it, agreeably to Genl. Blounts memorandum - we very soon agreed on the terms; but when he produced the certificate for the purpose of assignin. to the original owner; it was for a different lot, and in the name of a different per. son - I then was told that another person in town had 50 acres of the other lot, and on going to him I found, that if he ever held a certificate of sale; it was so far distroyed, that it was not possible to know any thing about it neither could I find from the records that he, or Mr Mills had ever bought any part of those tracts - I shall therefore enter the whole of them two lots - Vizt No. 9. and 24. Sect. 2 T, 9. R. 7. in the name of Dixon Marshal for the future - belieiving that no sale which cou affect his claim, has ever taken place - Genl. Blount can therefore save his $25.00, stated in Mr. Wallaces letter -

That affair of John T. Mason, I must leave untill I see you, or have it more ful explained. -

The house of Representatives have voted an impeachment against John Thompson, president of the court of common please in the 2nd circuit on Sundry charges of mal- conduct in office - mostly for imperious, and overbearing conduct in the discharge of the duties assigned him - T. Morris, S. Huntington, S. Monnett, G. Jackson and T. G. Jones are appointed managers to conduct the impeachment before the Senate - A bill ha passed the house, repealing the "Act for commissioning certain officers" which was passed under the resolution so much spoken of for several years - But I cannot think it will pass the Senate -

From what I can collect relative to our petitional standing your present session of Congress will be a truly important one - Many subjects must present themselves, in which the honor, the happiness, or the pecuniary interest of the United States is dee ly involved - Our patience, and forbearance with British insult, and British perfidy, just be exhausted: And the only alternative which appears left for us, is open war' If we must appeal to that destructive alternative for the future security of our national rights, and for the redress of the past insults, and injuries which we have sustained from that blinded and biggoted people; it will no doubt be a primery object with congress to commence the conflict under the most favourable position, which natu: has placed in our power -In the discussion of which I have no doubt but the possession of East Florida will be a consideration which will not be overlooked.

That is a small neck of land, it is true; but such an one as is calculated to do us a Serious injury - The Government of Spain is in a precarious situation; and such as it is, it is no alliance with England. In case therefore of a rupture with England I am well persuaded that British policy will at once discover the advantage of landin a considerable force in that country; (if for no other purpose, & to divide our forces Sound policy would therefore dictate to me the necessity of taking immediate possessit of that country, leaving it open for future negociation with Spain; when her government becomes settled or if not, we then should be in the possession of the means of doing

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