Having trouble getting a financial claim approved by Richmond official; display animosity between eastern & western Virginians; reports details of burning of Moore house.

Wythe Ct House Jany 30th 1838
Dear Majr

I recd your friendly and polite letter the (25th Inst.) and have to acknowledge to you my warm thanks for your promptness and trouble in attending to my business. I should have answered your favour sooner but for the difficulty of obtaining the required certificate from your letter it seems that Mr. Heath must be very particular and scrupulously exact in the discharge of what he conceives his duty, you will find enclosed the certificate of my Guard. Be good enough to lay before him the warrant issued by the Magistrate to Mr. Oglesby & Ewald to value my carry all & Horses together with their certificate. Also that of the Tavern Keeper & auctioneer in Lynchburg. And the one now sent and if he wants farther proof, you can say to him that you know the gentlemen who have signed their names to be magistrates and that it would be a small business for 10 persons esteemed respectable at home, to combine for the purpose of defrauding the state out of 26, or 27$ My own impression is had the claim been presented from any D. Shff. (deputy sheriff) from the lower part of the state it would have been paid without I grunt but as things are we must be satisfied to dance attendance, give up all fine feelings, have all our motives impugned, to keep up the self importance of our eastern aristocrats and would be great men. the claim is as just as any claim on earth can be, and the certificate now sent makes it no better authenticated and only gives additional trouble. Should be finally refuse to pay do with the claim what you may think best. I have no doubt it would be allowed

by the assembly. The amt. is small but it is my just due, and I want it more particularly as a western man, to prove that we are not to be defrauded at the pleasure of every fat office holder.

Your good family were well a few days ago as I learnt from Miss Nancy who was in Town. You request to know the particulars of the burning of Mr. Moor's House, he was in Town at the time, and as the house was discovered to be on fire in the roof and in that part where there had been no fire kept by the Family. there seems to be but little doubt it was the work of some incendiary. Nearly all his furniture was saved, the fire broke out early in the morning so that none of his family were hurt. I am told for months before the poor Fellow was in constant dread when from home and was often heard to say he must hasten back for he feared his house would be burnt to the ground I wish the monster who fired the House could be found out and your neighborhood together with society at large rid of such a devil.

Your's with true esteem
Edwd. Walker

To Majr Jas T. Gleaves

N.B. the certificate on the other page can be cut from this letter as you may see from the way I have drawn it. My guard were with the patient when the horse was sold and therefore cannot certify what the horse sold for
The auctioneer's certificate is the only proof I can produce of the amt. the horse sold for
Your friend
Edwd. Walker