My dear Sir.

My son Francis will be married in July to a Miss Ruck² & as I am very ignorant about business affairs I much wish for your advice—what I ought to settle on Miss R. In order that you may advise me, I must state that judging from a careful estimation of my property each of my son will on the death of myself & wife, receive from 30 to 32 thousand pounds.

I think that all my property is shares only but it may fall in value   I have no idea whether M^r & M^rs Ruck can settle anything on her.³ They are not poor, but I have always heard that Mr R. holds his land on an extraordinary will, & that if he dies before his brother⁴ his children will inherit none.— M^rs R. land I believe is all entailed on the eldest son.⁵ So that they may be able to settle hardly anything on their daughter; but I hope may make some allowance this ought, I presume to make no difference on what I ought to settle on Miss Ruck.

I can see that it w^d be rash to settle too large a sum on Miss R. in case of her death & having one or two children & my son marrying again. And in case my son sh^d die, it w^d be unfair on my other children if too large a sum had been settled on his widow.— Now will you be so kind as to reflect over these circumstances & give me your advice.—

I hear it is usual for the solicitor of the Lady to draw up the settlement.— I have written to M^r Ruck to ask for name of his solicitor, & have told him, that as soon as he has given his intructions I w^d ask you to communicate with his solicitor, & arrange about the affair.⁶

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | C. D

P. S I am much obliged for your note about the Land⁷