Avocations & thenn advoidable Attendance of a Session Comenceing imediately after the
Order of Court) and together with his Clerks at no small Expence, Extracted all the Fines
& Recogn to the Number of 7 or 800 from the seven Books & drew out an Estreat at large, in
the doing of which they found other Books & Files in Mr. Wallers's Poson were still wanting
to furnish the Particulars of the Fines as well as the Recogn, particularly the Books of
Janry, Febry, April June, & Septr. 1769. The Recogn standing openoutas forfeited in subsequent
Books having been Originally Entred into in some or other of these former Books and some
of the Fines set in the Sessions of this Period being upon Indictmts; on some of the former
Files particularly June 1769 which has been very much wanted.

Under this Difficulty Mr: Jefferson on the 2d: July 1772 waited upon Baron Perrott
at his Chambers, with the Preparation he had made (having had leave from the Court to
apply as there might be Occasion) & was advised to attend the Barons the next [..] Morning
at Westmr ; before the Courts at which he did & was referr'd to call on Mr. Waller for those
Things wanting which he did the same Day & by great good Luck as he thought met
with Mr. Waller, & gave him a List of them who treated him very scornfully as usual &
refus'd to give him a single Matter, tho' it was to do his Business for him & on receivs. a very
short Answer or rather refusal of a direct Answer to his Request Mr: Jefferson desired to know is
such was the Answer he was to give to the Barons, he shut the Door in his Face

Trin 1772

Mr: Jefferson forbore to Inform the Barons of this refractory Conduct & being
hindred by the Approach of the Westminster Session from further Application to this Mattre
was presently surprized with an Order for shewing Cause the last day of the Term agt. an
Attachmt; of Contempt in not returning this Estreat (thos' from the Time of the Order to the
Time of the Motion there had not been sufficient Time by much for compleating the Business
had he had every Material wanting from the beginning

not to be found

At the End of the Sittings he shew'd Cause on the Affidt. (F) wherein having
Observ'd that not with standing he apprehended he was neither Obliged nor warranted to
make that Estreat he had nevertheless done all he could till Waller's refusal he was so
unfortunate as to be misapprehended or to give Displeasure, And the Order was
made AbsoluteAnd thistwotoo without any Order on Mr. Waller to deliver the means of
compleating it or lending AssistanceThis shews something beyound Ordinary Motives.

To say no less of the Order to Attach when milder Remeeties are given by the Statuted
& for not doing that which another ought to have done long before, & for doing of which Mr:
Jefferson may be troubled & vexed by the Parties concern'd, is Considered by every one
acquainted with the Practice of the Sessions as a rigorous measure.

But as' tis a Folly to Contend with Court or superior Powers; the next
Thing Jefferson has Considered is how to Perform this Business in the best manner
he can & with as little Mischief to himself & others as possible

In Order thereto he has sent Letters to the Parties concern'd (none having
been sent at the proper time) And the Answers thereto are Collected in the Schedules
of the different Sessions & marginal Observations throughout the Draft

By these it appearing that many Persons will be very undeservedlyinvolved