The middlings and Ship-stuff may be sold to answer the money calls which you will have upon you: but I entreat that these may be as few as you can possibly make them; for I acknowledge, altho’I have no doubt of the justness of the Acct. you handed to Mr. Dandridge, that the amt. was beyond what I expected to see in so short a time, but as I had not the particular articles to refer to, it was not in my power to form an accurate Judgment of the necessity for them; but there is one rule, and a golden one it is, that nothing should be bot. that can be made, or done without. People are often ruined before they are aware of the danger, by buying everything they think they want; conceiving them to be trifles, without adverting to a Scotch addage, than which nothing in nature is more true “that many mickles make a muckle.” I am more pointed in giving this sentiment because I perceive many things were yet got, at the Instance of Green, from the Stores in Alexandria. He will not care what cost I am run to for Carpenters tools.*