Mercer County Kentucky April 28th 1811

Dear Stepen,

It has been a considerable time since we parted and I have not had the pleasure of hearing one single word from you since January although this is the third time I have written, you have not thought it worth while to answer me, and I had concluded not to have troubled you again with a letter but meeting with this opportunity, th° at a late hour of the night; the very high regard I always had for you from our first acquaintance and the very friendly maner in which I was treated by you and the family while in Louisianna almost destitute of friends or acquaintances impell me once more to address you—but should I not receive an answer to this in a convenient time after it may have come to hand, I shall take it for granted that my letters have not met with a favourable reception, and that I have only been intruding on your patience; if this should be the case which I should be extremely sorry to hear, I must beg the favour of forgiveness for the past, and will not intrude for the future—

When I left Louisianna I had fully determined upon returning in a short time to that country and permanently fixing myself there, but after arriving at home after a tedious and disagreeable journey of Six weeks from the time of our parting; and enjoying the company of my friends and relatives, who to me are most dear and affectionate; through their Solicitations, and the violent objections of a most passionate and fond mother, I could not but at the expence of her hapiness persist in the Idea; of course I d[e]clined the notion and have now settled on a farm in Mercer County near Danville, where I have turned my attention entirely to farming; a life which to me has always appeared most agreeable, and that which is best calculated to render a person most happy particularly if comfortably situated, with an agree[able]—companion—in this last respect I am unfortunate for instead of having any person on whom I might gaze with pleasure, when retired from the fateigues of the day; and the Silent shades of the night come on; I have to pass My hours in lonely meditation, enveying the hapy lot of those in the connubial State, who have inlisted under Cupids banner and are engaged in the wars of Venus— how long I shall thus continue almost in sight of battle without the liberty of entering into the contest I am at a loss to know but my Services are volenteered and I am only waiting for Some one to say she is willing to engage in the conflict and enter into a scene of pleasures too delicate for my pen to describe—

I am sorry that I cannot give you some account of your Amaretto near Lexington, but my having been absent from that place about three months and confined closely to business prevent my having that information which perhaps to you would be most desirable, however I beleive she is not yet maried and have no doubt but she anticipates with pleasure the happy hour when you are to meet again—This however may not continue to be the case long for I can hear of Mariages being celebrated almost every day—

I am told that your Sister has been maried since I left that Coutry to Mr B—n [James Bryan] if so I think she has made a very Judicious choice for there is no man in my opnion more worthy, and for whom I have a greater regard

I cannot with justice to my own feeling close this letter, (although I fear I have spun it out to lengthy on subjects not perhaps to you emportant without expressing the obligations I am under to the young Gentlemen about the mines for the friendship manifested to me during my stay at that place, particularly to Mr Bowling; to whom, with the rest of my acquaintances you will do me the favour of presenting my best compliments and warmest respects—

John Bowman [Rubric]

N B If you shoud favour me with a letter please to direct to Danville, Mercer County

J.B.

[Address:] Mr Stephen F. Austin Mine A. Burton District St Geneveeve U. Louisianna favd by Mrs Rector.