The letter concerns the administration of an estate. Reference is made to a General Shorter and a Judge Shorter, who are probably General C. Shorter (b. 1788) and Judge Eli S. Shorter (1794-1836), prominent brothers active in east Alabama and Georgiain the early part of the 19th Century. Judge Shorter's daughter Mary Jane was married to Dr. John A. Urquhart (October 7, 1805-October 29, 1876) of Columbus. The estate referred to may be that Judge Shorter.