Isaac Lewis Baker residing in Lexington Kentucky to Stephen Fuller Austin of Upper Louisiana, health-

Transylvania University, July 1st 1810

Friend Stepen,

Whether it is your design to corospond with me or not I am not able to tell, but if you do not answer this letter shortly after you receive it I shall conclude you are for a non intercourse and act accordingly—

From our intimacy during the time you staid here and being informed by the person who delivered you the letter that I wrote to you a few days previous to your leaving Lexington, I concluded I should hear from you as soon as the mail could come from St Geneveive to this place after you got home—but how much have I been disappointed. Two months of posts have come and not a scrall from little Stephen. This agitated my Irish Blood very much and I was about swearing I never would write to you when the other evening taking a small breezing towards " old Fowler's place " with a certain young lady who lives near the upper end of the south side of the Courthouse or Public-Square—also another who lives one door or two or three from where you formerly lived and several other lasses with some lads of the town, the two first mentioned told me I must write to you immediately and inform you of a certain affair which [they] think may militate to your disadvantage or I would be sunk in their esteem for ever and ever—

The impressive and commanding manner in which they delivered this chilld all the "Irish blood" in my veins So to oblige two young ladies whom I greatly esteem—and from other considerations I am induced to write to you and if the sequel holds out in proportion to the Introduction you will have a confounded long letter of it— but now to tell the affair the ladies have told me of— Those ladies aforementioned tell me that our old comrade Butcher that Bloody minded soul is about to supplant you one mile from Lexington i. e. at the Lombardy poplar Nursery— They told me to tell you if you wished to save deal at that place you must make great exertions or you would be done over tailor' as the vulgar express it. I have ever since had a particular eye on his actions and from my own observation and information received from Major John Mclntire another rival can safely assert that Butcher has been to see her every evening for one week past. Thus stands the affair. Times are squally— If you cannot or will not repair to this place immediately to support your claim recollect I am your sworn friend and if you will send me a power of Attorney and instructions how to act I will do the best I can for you— Now for other matters— As to an entry you made out at the Cave Fielding B------d [sic] having the oldest patent will certainly non-suit you— And now to lump your other sweethearts for I cannot notice them all singly, all of them are surrounded by beaux. I have heard a report that I am making at two or three of them and no doubt envy or disappointed has signified as much to you by letter before this by [but] believe me to be earnest when I say I will not intrude on the premises of any friends if I know the ground they occupy—

S------that sweet provoking girl the other evening when we were in chit-chat no one else near thus address'd me—" No young man from Orleans, Mississippi or Louisianna Terretory ever lived here without engaging himself to be married to some young lady and amongst a very great number not one ever returned to discharge his engagement, and I be bound (Listen well Stephen for indeed-she said it) that I never will give any of them the opportunity of thus deceiving me!!" " Oh, gods," As from the agitated ether the swift hurld Thunderbolt strikes the astounded earth, fell those dire words on my ear— At length my Irish Blood mounted high in my veins, and as it passed through my heart washed away every particle of affection for the ungrateful girl that had gathered round it.—but quick was her place [possessed by] one who long my bosom has cherished but [whose] name my tonge would never reveal. She is a beauty Love—and divinity—but now it is time to quit the affairs of the heart for those of the head—

I am engaged in studying Rhetoric, Logic Algebra and the reading of history. I am more studious than ever and enjoying every advantage my advancement in science is rapid. I will [not] graduate, but will leave Lexington if I am well and nothing unforeseen intervenes about the 12th of October for the Mississippi Territory. At that season it would be impracticable to go down the Ohio so I will have to go all or part of my way by land. If I were sure of getting a passage from St Louis or Kaskaska I would go through Vincennes etc to one of these places and so on as I am axious to see the country. Please write to me and let me know [if] a passage at the time I want one can be had Enquire of the officers of Bell canton and therabouts for the soldiers frequenly pass down about that time

If no passage can be had or the road from St. Geneveive to the Chickesaw Bluffs is unpracticable at that season I will go via Knoxville Savannah and Mobile for the old beaten track I have seen often enough—

With every sentiment of respect and esteem Your sincere Friend—

Isaac Lewis Baker

Mr. Stephen Fuller Austin

P. S. The professors in good health—The students in number Sixty two—, McCalla Smith and Lee will Push for degrees at the close of this session—Your female acquaintances are all in good health and desire to let little Stephen be told so—Wm Butler coresponds with me. He was well a few days since. He will be here in a few days and go to University the rest of the session. J. Bickley is at home reading history and soon will commence the study of Law Shannon started to Philadelphia the 12th ult

TOUCH OF THE TIMES

Dr. J. W. takes the rag off the bush a door below your old place of residence. Dr. McCollough as usual. Charles Morton and Miss Bright will be married the 5th inst. Mrs. Beck is still crazed Miss E Price will go to Washington City in November with Mrs Clay and return in March. A certain Miss Edminton niece of Major Morrison is reigning beauty. Miss M. Parker has returned. Mrs. Pope introduced many new fashions etc. The Singing School Scholars who remain here appear reorganized and we frequently take airings of an evening. You are expected back next fall. I expect I will live in New Orleans next winter and Study french and Law. In the Spring I will return to this place via New York and Philadelphia and complete the study of law here. In the Spring of 1812 I expect to get married descend the river and settle some where in the (Mans or Mississippi Territories etc. All this I intend doing if [I] live and any young lady will be so good as to enter into a matrimonial partnership with me. I hope to find such a one in your parts next fall. Mr. Bradfords and Genl. Russells families well likewise Mrs. Harts and all the Price's. Maria is with us Big doings to be over on the 4th Father Cunningham is now preaching and it being Sabbath I have taken my time in writing so no more

Isaac Baker

I have quit Betsy for a few months

[Addressed:] Mr Stephen Fuller Austin St. Geneveive Upper Louisiana