Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800 to unknown

Written by Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a member of the South Carolina legislature to an unknown recipient. References previous and more detailed letters he wrote to the recipient within the last two days. Says in case the letters have not arrived that Mr. Parker, the husband of a sister of Mrs. Rutledge, has offered him "a Proposition to give £85 a Head, for one half of the Gang - that is 24 or 25 - payable in good Bonds." Says the first installment is due in June. Says he thinks the price is a bargain if "the Negroes will come with him," hinting that they would resist being divided and that they had some sort of say in the matter. Says the gang will be divided fairly "as to Age, & quality" and wished that Parker would have taken 30 instead of 25. Also asks to be informed of the quantity of Georgia rice to be appropriated toward payment of debts, the propriety of accepting the offer for the Cumberland lands, and the list of Negroes remaining to be sold "with their Ages, qualities, &c &c." Says he is writing in the Assembly Hall where it is so noisy he cannot connect two ideas together. Postscript says no commission will be paid for the sale of the slaves to Parker and that he will make the division "as easy as possible."