Herculaneum Feby-23 1820

Dear Son

I have wrote you now for three Mails past and in two of my letters I have enclosed you money—I was in hopes I could have by this mail forwarded you 50 Dollars, but I could not obtain the money I had expected, inclosed I send you 5 Dollars of Nash Ville money I cannot obtain any money but State bank of Kentucky Tennessee and Nashville you must try to get the Nash Ville money exchanged or get some person in Lexington to forward to Nash Ville and send back Kentucky there is no other way to manage—I think I shall get 50 Dollars by next mail—I have heard nothing from Washington City as yet, nor have I heard any thing from your brother lately, but as a Mail is now established that will run every two weeks—I shall hear from your brother more constant—I hope you are making exertions in your Studies—as you have but little time to spend at school you must improve Day and Night and use all the care you can to advance yourself everything will depend on yourself whether you advance in the Navy and I shall be greatly disappointed if you do not make good use of your time call to mind Daily your Dear Brothers advice and put it in practice let me again impress your mind to keep well with your equals in office and obtain the confidence of your superiours good words and a Courtly Deportment produces wonders towards advancing a young officer.

Accept my dear son your fathers affections

Moses Austin

[Addressed:] Mr James E. B. Austin Nicholds Ville Kentucky