Washington April 9th 1820 Dear Sir, I wrote you a week or two since that  Mr Riley proposed to pay me his tax on Kelleyvale  which we bidd [bid] off last April - which will save him a jour- ney to Vermont - I have agreed to take the money and have  it redeemed - he has sent me fifty dollars & wrote me he will  send me the ballance [balance] in a few days - I shall be at home early in May but the time of redemption will be out before  I get home - fearing my other letter might miscarry I write  again - There will be no occasion to enter it redeemed until I come home - nor to take out deeds before that time if he  fails to pay the remainder - I have no particular news - you have probably heard  that our Spanish war is come to an end - The Southern States  want Florida, to make another negro State - but there was like to be so much opposition to the project of taking Florida that the administration was glad to back out. All is in- trigue here - Mr Clay has an eye upon the office of President  and wishes to succeed Mr Monroe after 4 years, and to pave the  way wishes to be Vice president vice [ ] - They got up a  caucus for the purpose but there was so much opposition that it flushed in the pan - I see plainly that Adams will never get it - It will be Clay or Crawford - The Southern States would  divide the union before they would submit to a Northern President. Col. J Scott Yours in haste S C Crafts