Brassos Texas July 19th 1825

Messrs. Hyde & Merit.

Doctor Imla Keep has just arrived from New Orleans with some goods—and let me have the greatest part of them for which I paid him—by crediting him for money that I placed in his hands to purchase some Articles for me. I likewise gave him Authority to receive for me a considerable Amount of money—which he received, and made use of and has not returned me one cent after buying the goods of the Doctor and paying for them as above stated I found out he had not paid money for the goods—but got them on a credit, and made use of my name in getting them he was not authorized to do so—and he is a man that never will have it in his power to use my name in that way— And I was much surprised to see you had allowed him the liberty of acting so with you—for he had not my name on paper—except he wrote it or got some one to do it. neither was he authorized either verbally or in any other manner whatever to use my name— it is true, about twelve months since I promised to give him a birth as an overseer on one of my plantations, on conditions—he would perform certain acts and come out last winter—but he has disappointed me in every case, and not come untill now, and now, without my money. If he had complied I would have employed him, and was to give him one tenth of the profits of sd plantation after all expenses were paid, he is now insisting on me to employ him, for he says he is anxious to make money to pay you and myself.

I have a right to find fait of all the confidence, I placed in him, but was more displeased when I found out he was tempering with my name, than any thing else. I have given him no employment as yet, and am so much displeased—I do not know whither I will or not, the doctor appears to be very desirous to get in some business— to make money to pay you and myself, it is a duty I owe my feelings to notify you of this immediately— I have no credit in Orleans, for I sent my son there to purchase a few articles— he got a letter from Mr. James Brown of Alexandria, and had the goods charged to him—and I have to pay Brown; Why did I do this? because Keep—as I heard, had made way with my money—and could not get the articles I wrote for but in Orleans he informed my son he could get such and such articles— And then applied to my son, to go his security—and he could get what he pleased it made my son very angry for if I wanted a credit I did not want any assistance with his credit for the last time I saw Keep, untill now, he affirmed if I would send in my son—he would raise my money at Alexandria—and go in company with my son to New Orleans, and purchase the articles I wanted, and then he, Keep, would come round by water with them, and my son by land—and bring my money, that is, the overplus—that Keep had after buying the goods, he advanced my son ten Dollars out of thousands that I had placed in his hands—and said that was half what he had.

Jared E. Groce

[Addressed:] Messrs. Hyde and Merit.—New Orleans