July 11, 1884, Friday

Sultry and oppressive.  At office in New Orleans all day.  Paid various parties sundry amounts on account.  Wrote Mr. Beirne in reply, about the lawyer's fees.  He directed me to pay Drummond and Bradford $10,000 - which with what he has already paid J.L. Bradford, he thinks will be fully his portion of fee.  I also paid J.L. Bradfod $1000 more.  This makes the amount paid lawyers by Mr. Beirne $13,166.66 of the $20,000 fee - nearly 2/3.  Told him about the improbability of General Brent and myself agreeing and told him we had both withdrawn from the affair and were unwilling to have anything more to do with it and would leave it to Mr. Kenner and himself to fight it out.  Told him I did not think he could find referees willing to settle on basis of crops.  If area is to be taken it must be modified by character and value of land.