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68

Fort Fairfield Septr 18 1839

Hon Rufus MacIntyre

Land Agent [?]

Sir

The property of [?] Webster &c detained here by me was replevined[?] by Mr[?] Sheriff[?] Packard of this county

I thought best not to resist the due cause of the law otherwise than a legal manner[?] [?] with Mr[?] [?] who was here upon some [?] of law!!!!

in relation to this matter and as his opinion was that keeping forcible possesion [possession] of them would be illegal I have given them up to the Sheriff in due form he [?] them and gave[?] bonds from Webster &c

I presume all will come armed with a replevin writ

What course shall I take in regard to them

I was astonished & mortified to[?] that some persons have misconstrued[?] my notice a copy of which I sent you in one of my letters They saying that by that I have said that the state has given up jurisdiction of this territory to the land agent and thereby also said that the state acknowledge the claim of Great Britain

I cannot see how they have given it that meaning as nothing was farther from my mind than making that admission

The very beginning of said notice in these words the part[?] of the State of Maine[?] heretofore claimed &c I supposed would show what I meant upon that point

Col Jarvis was here and saw no objection of the kind

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69

Mr Gouch[?] & Mr Packard are here executing writs against the settlers in favor of Mr Mac[?] to recover the value of supplies furnished them to cut timber &c[?]

This I think is the worse of all

I have explained to the gentlemen how the case stands and in [?] to them I can say they regret deeply that they commenced[?] the suits

I trust I shall soon have definite[?] instructions from you as I cannot hope to avoid getting into great embarrasment [embarrassment] if this question remains long unsettled

Your Obt Svt

Wm. P. Parrott

Fort Fairfield

Sept. 20, 1839.

Hon. Rufus MacIntire

Land Agent, of the State of Maine

Sir

Your letter of the 15th inst. enclosing writs[?] &c against N.[?] S. Hooper was duly received yesterday, I sent Mr Pattee Deputy Sheriff to Fairbanks in hopes to find Mr Packard there as I had doubts whether he Mr Pattee was authorised [authorized] to give writs on civil actions and was also afraid he might make some mistake, I therefore thought best to send if practicable to the Sheriff himself

I give enclosed Mr Pattees Statement of the facts which transpired and by which it will appear that Packard refused entirely and unqualifiedly to serve that writ against Hooper,

We are now in a strange position as he has taken his deputation[?] from Mr Pattee we[?] have no officer[?] his refusing to serve the writ has subjected the state to the will of [?] of some two thousand dollars.

I will not say that Mr Packard will only serve writs against the officers of the