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will observe in the letter of Lt. Keatley addressed to you & dated on 24th of August last (which, with various other documents having bearing upon the delay in securing possession of the house after the formal execution of lease for same, was shown by Colonel James to Genl. Terry) he explicitly states he acknowledged me to be the first applicant for renting of the house - the only person denying it, being ex-Capt. Lucas who was compelled to acknowledge in presence of Genl Mann that he was wrong, & Lt. K. right.

As remarked above, in parentheses, Lt. K's. letter to yourself, one from Mr. Johnson to same address, and all the documents connected with the case together with my Lease, were shown to Genl. Terry by Col. James on the 26th August, and the Genl. immediately telegraphed to General Mann to put me in possession of the House on the 28th without fail.

When executed the Lease was considered as perfectly valid both by the Bureau & myself, and convinced that I was secure in my quarters for the term of the Lease - 12 mos. - various improvements have been made by me on the Estate at considerable expense.