Very sultry. Went to Donaldsonville and met Judge Duffel and General Brent. Judge decided, on Mr. Hanson's report, that lawyer's fees should be paid in proportion to total land acquired by parties between 42 and 80 arpents and that the character and value of all the land was about the same. Land of Mr. Beirne, 3,946 and that of Mr. Kenner, 775 - just 1/5. But the area to be determined by the parties as "they see fit," it being admitted that Mr. Hanson not having surveyed the lands "could not give their areas."
General Brent not willing to take Mr. Henson's report as a final and definite basis of settlement. Thinks he entirely under-estimated the quantity of Mr. Beirne's land - that the measurement would show that Mr. Kenner's land between 42 and 80 arpents would not be more than 1/9 of Mr. Beirne's. Bases his opinion on certificate of the U.S. surveyor in New Orleans which makes this about the properties. Hence we are all at sea again, as I am unwilling to take surveyors generals figures as a basis.
