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From Big Tree, Sept. 11, 1797, 2 pages on 4-page lettersheet; from Philadelpia, Feb. 18, 1798, 1½ pages on 4-page lettersheet; from Philadelphia, Feb. 26, 1797, 1 page on 4-page lettersheet; and March 8, 1798, one page on single sheet.

Interesting series of letters, written by William Shepard to his son, with significant content regarding political matters, as well as family business. A few brief excerpts: Sept. 11 "...we hope to bring the treaty at a close within one week...they will sell all the land except certain reservations which they keep for themselves which will be perhaps 10000 acres, he has offered them one hundred thousand dollars which I think they will except off(?) ..."; Feb. 18, "...we should have expelled Lyon in the first instance, and then we should have preserved the order and decorum of the House but now the doings of this Congress has so wounded the honour of the nation that the infamous stain never be wiped away..."; March 8, "...We shall not declare War against France nor augment our land forces until France declares war against us..."