[Letter from Judge L. Valliant to Eugenia P. Bass, 11 May 1858]
[transcribed by Mark A. Murphy, 23 Oct 2003]

Greenville, Miss
May 11th 1858

Mrs. E.P. Bass

Dear Maddam

Your favour of the 3rd inst did not reach me until yesterday morning, and I
now hasten to reply to it, hoping that by sending this by hand it may still
reach you before you leave home.

The numbers of the land that you wish are as follows: AF Smith & wife 
conveyed to Bass & Murphy Lots 3,4,5,6,7 & 8 section 7, Lots 1,2,3 & 4 Sec.
8. 7? Lot 2 sec 26, and so much of lots 1 & 3 of section 26 as lies on the
west side of Rolls Bayou, containing in all about 837 acres more or less all
in Township 14 R.G.W.

Mr. Smith says that the only mortgage that was given in the case was a liene
retained by him on the land for the purchas mony, and upon an examination of
the receipts I find that he has released the liene, and, so the property is 
now unincumbered as far as the purchas money is conserned.  I was not able to
bring you suit against John A. Biddle at the present term of the court
because I could not see Dr. Peters in time to get him to make the survey.
I wish you would write to me and authorize me to imploy him to make a
complete survey of the whole town as soon as the water goes down that I may
be prepaired to bring the suit next fall, or at least take such measures in
the case as you may deem expedient in the matter when it shall be accurately
assertained exactly what property you really own in the town.  I think that
there is no doubt that you are legally intitled to a considerable portion of
the property now occupied by Biddle including the old store house formerly
occupied by James Prince, But I can not tell what portion to sue for until I
can have the survey made again, as the lots were layed off only with a tape
line and are very badly described in the deeds.

If you have no objection I would like to know when a letter would be likely 
to reach you this summer as it will perhaps be necessary for me to
communicate further with you on the subject this summer if I bring the suit.
I am exceedingly sorry that sickness and the high water has prevented me from
coming to see you in person, but I will communicate to you whatever steps I
may take in the matter.  Hoping that you may have a very pleasant trip this
summer.  I remain as ever, very respectfuly your friend truly
L. Valliant

[cc?]
J. Prince
T. Trikerm[?]
Endecott
Plant
Rose
Davidson

[outside] 
Judge L. Valliant
Lots Princeton
Biddle etc

1. Note: the numbers of sections 7 & 8 referred to within should be 6 & 7
2.- I also promise that lots 3 &4 of section 8 within (correctly, section 7)
as also lot 2 part of lots 1 &3 of sec. 26 being West of Rolls Bayou have
subsequently been conveyed to Murphy- thereby leaving this present numbers to
be lots 3,4,5,6,7 & 8 of S6 and lots 1 & 2 of S70 T14 of 9-
3- I find no mention in this letter of the parts of Section 23 held in the 
Bass estate-
Richd. A. O'Hea[?]
C.E.H. Surveyor		May 1858