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McARTHUR TO WORTHINGTON

Fruit hill April 25th 1812.

Dear Sir

I have this day recd. your letter of the 15th. Inst. for the information it contains I beg you will accept my sincere thanks.

This Sir will be the last opportunity I expect to have for some time of addressing you from "Fruit hill." The detachment of volunteers from my Divi- sion will march from Chillicothe on monday next, and I shall be with them. We are ordered to rendezvous at Urbana on the 29th. Inst. there will be but few if any draughted from the Division. What soldiers we will make, is yet to be determined.

Capt. Minary's company of rangers, have been out about two weeks. I heard from them this day the Indians on the head of Scioto and big miami appear quite friendly. Lieut Finley of the rangers from Adams county, did not recruit any new but joined the company at Urbana,. I presume that he was treated with indifference, he left it to the choice of the company whether he should con- tinue with them or return home and it is said he (poor man) had an almost un- animous vote of permission to return! It is said that he has resigned. I know but little of the man, but I am sorry for him, and also for his friend Doctr. Campbell who has left the service at so critical a moment. however it appears that the time is at hand when every person will have enough to do to take cre of himself. I shall therefore dwell no longer at present on the mis- fortunes of others, but turn my attention to the business that more immediately conserns me.

You say "The committee on the btll to establish the NW boundary of the Va. military district, are disgusted at the law of Virginia on that subject, and are disposed to pay no regard to it. I hope, however, that the committee will not suffer their disgust at the act of Virginia, to interfer with the rights of unoffending individuals: and that congress will no longer keep us in sus- pence - That they will pass a law authorising commissions to ascertain the true source of the Scioto and little miami rivers and direct that a line shall be run and iaarked from the one point to the other, which in my opinion must ultimately be done, and the sooner it will be done the better it will be for all conserned.

I am much obliged to you for your attention to my patent business. I hope you will not relax your exertions to obtain them for me, in consequence of my leaving home. I have suffered much in consequence of my patents being so long detained, as I cannot Take the last payment on any tract of land, agreeably to my contracts, unless I can make the Deed to the purchaser. As you have been more fortunate in obtaining patents than any other person that I have applyed to in that way, I again take the liberty of troubling you with a few more sur- veys with the usual request, that you will endeavour to obtain patents on them for me. I shall talce the liberty of writing to you as the troops progresses on their march and shall be happy to hear from you at Detroit should I reach that post

Duncan McArthur

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