Extract of a letter, 3 May 1787

Extract of a letter dated Fayette in Kentucky May 3. 1787 Although we are not infrequently visited by the savages; yet and altho our separation is become a serious matter as it seems to be drawing nigh; yet the public mind seems most attracted to our commercial prospects, of which the navigation of the Mississippi is our main hope. - I agree with you that the treaty with Spain, might have a happy tendency to turn our thoughts to manufactures, and back and in some degree compensate for the loss of trade. But then have you attentively considered that our country is and will be for a long time in want of hands, that bulky articles most be our first exports, and that if those articles be on hand and or cannot find a proper market, the value of our fine lands, will sink, and we gradually descend to misery and contempt, as much so as if our property lay in the dominion of an Italian prince or a Turkish Bashaw.

It was not until the beginning of this month that I received your very friendly letter of dated the 20th of March last. It happened to fall into hands that were none of my friends. I expected that the one word in the reccommendation of February last would be found fault with, by some of the Council but as it was an affair in which I was mentioned I did not care to propose corrections, and some of the court was seemingly in as warm a temper as I suppose some of the members of the executive although for a contrary reason. As to myself I am perfectly easy; if I was an ambitious aspiring man, I surely would not think it an honor to be a County Justice of the Peace especially to be associated with weak and ill-meaning men, characters that is a burlisque upon the most inferiour kind of judiciary bodys- Mayor Mitchel is a Mansfield to some that now sits on the Bench in Washington. As to my procuring a Certificate from Wm. Edmiston, I shall never do it, he is too mifleing a character, to establish any mans reputation, being grossly ignorant; but meanly lead and dictated to by Gol. Mussell, the letter the Executive received is noy this letter writer's, but Mr. Mussells, for Edminton can neither write nor read, at least intelligibly. - I have infinitly a preferable means to justify myself, than such Certificates, that is the approbation of my own conscience and the almost unanimous suffrages of my County-men to a must something more important and honorable than being a member of an inferior judiciary. The honbl Bolling Starke Esq.