Extracts of 22 letters between Benjamin Waterhouse, David Richards and William James Stevenson, relating to the administration of the estates of the late James Scarlett, 1802-1803. There were apparently disagreements about the running of the estates, and David Richards was ultimately put in charge of them.

There is also a copy of Richards' letter to Benjamin Waterhouse discussing the condition of the Peru and Spring Vale [probably a misrendering of Green Vale] estates. This letter is dated 21 Sep 1802 and reports "266 Negroes" at Peru, and states, "The Negroes and stock seem in good condition. The overseer has been there so long, and is a man of such easy disposition, that the Negroes thrive under him, and I shall not wish to remove him if he attends to my Rules with any degree of Correctness." The report on Green Vale is shorter and less thorough but is broadly positive.