[excerpts] The necessity of coming to some Decision with regard to Mr. Savages Estate becomes every Day more urgent – the Creditors are clamorous – but what Mode is to be adopted for disposing of the personal Property is yet to be determined … My Answer to them was shortly this that however inclined I might be to accede to their Proposition so far as it respected the Negroes yet I found myself restrained from coming to any determination until I had your Sentiments on the Subject… As to the Proposal made by Messrs Lloyd & c. it seems fair & just & had it been made to Mrs. Savage during her Life time it would perhaps have been advisable for her to accede to it, but circumstanced as her Estate now is I do not know which of her Executors will undertake to make a Purchase of that kind for the Benefit of the Children, it cannot be expected from either of them. If Mr. Clay and Mr. Elliott would agree to [like] the Negroes at their Valuation giving satisfactory security to the creditors [inserted: perhaps] some such Compromise may still take Place but if this Proposal cannot be acceded to, What else can be done? Shall we advertise them for Publick Sale at [Silk Hopes] in January next & that Mr. Savages Bonds will be taken in Payment which the Bond Creditors are very anxious that we should? …Work for Decision which I most earnestly wish for not only on my own Account & that of the Creditors who are extremely troublesome but also on account of the poor Negroes themselves whose uncertain situation commands Pity.