Clay, Henry, 1777-1852 to Jacob Burdett

Written by Clay as a lawyer in Lexington, Kentucky, before he began his political career to Burdett as an attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio. References a previous letter by Burdett respecting Jim, a runaway slave whose status was in question. Says an answer was not necessary because he had already forwarded "a Copy of those papers on which Jim's right to his freedom is founded. He derives his title from an Indian ancestor who was in the early part of the last Century reduced to Slavery in Virginia, contrary to the laws of that State." The only difficulty of his claim arises from the uncertainty of his descent. The problem was increased by "his obscurity, his removal from his native County, and the death of many witnesses who would have been able to have traced up his Ancestry." Says he will ultimately prove his lineage though because some of his relations, equally remote from their ancestors, have obtained judgments in their favor in the District Court of Petersburg, Virginia. Requested the deposition from a Mr. Coleman, who provided evidence for Jim, to be retaken. Says he has information that Jim's master was "severe", but that he regrets that Jim took the "unadvised" step to leave him. Says it puts him in awkward position as his lawyer, but that it is best for Jim to stay away from his old master at least until a decision on his case is made in June or September.