The letters of administration having been issued, and steps taken to collect the assets of the estate, the foremost duty of the administrator is to satisfy the claims left unpaid by the deceased at the time of his death. The policy of the law is, all debts shall be paid out of the personal estate, but if the personal estate is not sufficient for this purpose, the real estate may be sold, but only so much as is necessary to obtain the amount that will satisfy the unpaid claims.