July 7 Wednesday – Orion replied to Sam’s July 3? Letter:

[Jervis Langdon] must not buy blindfold, or until he sends his Memphis agent there to examine….Neither you nor Ma nor Pamela know anything about the land….I have laboriously investigated the titles, localities and qualities and I would put its present value at about five thousand dollars, though Ma and Pamela would not be willing to take that.

Orion pointed out problems with the titles, provisions of law, etc. He suggested Mr. Langdon enter into an equal co-partnership, which would try to solidify the family’s title by leasing the land “in 160 acre tracts and settling immigrants on them with seven or eight years’ leases…” [MTL 3: 279n1]. Note: Langdon’s response is not known and the deal never came together.