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Baltimore 22d July 1823 -
Doctr. Carmichael & Son,
Gentlemen,
We have received
a letter from Mr. Middleton, a copy of which we
annex. You will perceive that he offers a kind of
security, which we conceive amounts to nothing.
If he will give us a Deed of Trust in the 800 acres
of land he speaks of, provided it is unencumber'd,
we will agree to extend the time 6 ms., by taking
his bond payable in 6 ms. If however he will not
do so, or secure us in some other way, that you can
approve of, we request you to bring suit imme-
diately. Will there beYany risk of his making
way with his property after suit is brought?
Such are our ideas on this subject, but we
leave it discretionary with you to do what you
think best for our interest.Yours & c
Geo H. & J. S. Keerl
Copy.
Fred'g
18th July 1823 --
Dr. Sirs,
Dr. Carmichael called on me this morning,
and acquainted me that you had written instructions to
get my Bond with Security or to sue me. I told the
Doctor, and he requested me to write to you to the effect,
that I could not call on any person to be security for
me, but untill I could effect a sale in some proper
ty, for which I am now in a partial treaty with more
than one person, that I would give you security by a
lien on a Deed of trust, which I hold, on two lots and
three wood houses in the Corporation and Town of Fred [ericksburg ]
The debt is for about $670 -- on a very aged wid [owed]
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relative, to whom I have pledged that I would not
interrupt during her life. She is 80 years old and
very infirm, I suppose cannot survive long, which
was one inducement to this measure, though to tell
yuu all, she herself with her husband did not sign
the deed of trust, and notwithstanding they have for-
feited the conditions of the trust, by not paying up
the interest, there would be some difficulty in re-
covering half of the money now, which is interest,
which is recoverable,&cand should have to resort to
law, as she is not otherwise able to pay it. I state this
now, that should such an arrangement be entertained,
that a disinterested information on the subject might
tend not only to correspond, but that it might not
seem to you that I was offering you a security that
was intricate or uncert [a]in unexplained; I appeal
to you in candour and sincerity. I am embarrassed, and
am not able to give such personal security under my
present circumstances as I would wish to call on. I
cannot raise any money. I owe about $4000, and am
not able to pay $100 - without selling property, which I
am endeavouring to do. If you are determined to sue me,
I cannot avoid it. I am in treaty for the sale of a farm
of 800 acres of Land two miles from Fred'g, which is
very valuable and desirable. I shall sell it before
the first of Nov.r and will pay you so soon as I do
sell it. It is not my intention to keep you out of your
money longer than I can avoid it. If you choose to take
the security I have offered, I will give it and give my bond, and
do assure you that if I can pay it before by the sale of property
I will do so. It is no pleasure to be in debt and to be dun-
ned. I have the means to raise the funds and will make every exer-
tion to relieve myself, and will give my Bond at Six Months.
[Doctr] Carmichael requested me to say that he should not write
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to you, but would await your answer to me--
Respectfully
Sign'd H. O. Middleton
