I received your letter by Mr. McNutt, John has concluded to
go up to Sn Felipe and will take up the papers you enclosed— Cap.n
Martin will go up with John to arrange the bonds for the money
he has loaned us, he lets us have the use of the Money three years
at 6 pr cent, and we are to give him good security. We stated to
him that we would either give you as Security, or execute a
Mortgage on this place— he says either will do—and if the loan was
for a shorter period he would not require security, you can do as
you think best in the subject.— I have noticed the contents of
your letter relative to the management of this place and am much
pleased with your ideas of Economy as they accord precisely with
my own, and afford me much satisfaction to perceive you
determined to pay more attention to your own interest than heretofore,
a thing I have so oftened wished-— I am sensible if you continue
in the same way of thinking, a few years will entirely relieve you
from embarassment, and enable you to spend the remainder of
your life in ease and comfort. As to our future plans I have
concluded to remain here for the present year; and am now employed
putting the Gin in good order for the present crop— My calculation
was if Williams joined us to have gone to San Felipe, but not
receiving an answer from him on the subject we conclude that he has
probably abandoned the idea-— I wish to get Leal and his wife down
as soon as possible, and I want them started down while John is
at Town if they want any assistance Leal may hire Francisco,
Antones Son, who knows the way—and i will pay him here—
There are some things at town that I want to get down as I
have little or nothing to commence housekeeping with and it they
are left there may get lost, and if brought here will be saved, and be
of service to me— I will try and get Keller to go up in his boat and
bring down everything that you may not want— I am anxious to
get as many cattle as I can and if you can procure any I will attend
to the Collection of them. The cattle that is owing to Betts I want
for Bowen and Betts has promised me to settle with him. I have
two cows and two heifers at Robins; and the cows I expect have
calves, and perhaps the heifers I want Leal to get Francisco and
drive them down I purchased in the first place three cows—and
two heifers—one cow I let Sam Pettus have and the others are
still there— Enclosed I send an a/c against Battles which you can
charge on y.r Books in y.r Settlement with him, remember that all
goods furnished him is cash—also all debts paid by us for him is
the same— I also send two other against Slaughter which you can
also charge
I have paid Phillips and Slaughter considerable which can be
ascertained by having My a/c with Richardson and Davis drawn off
also—charge Slaughter with one dollar paid McKinstry and
Phillips 1.88 paid W. C. White— Widow Gilbert has an a/c against
us part is paid which can be ascertained by referring to my a/c withR P D. in y.r Settlement with Phillips ask him if he procured
any thing on my a/c from McKinstry— Battles took some powder
from the old office to pay a Spaniard for coming down here— also
he has made use of considerable plank for himself which he must
be charged with If I can leave home I will come up and arrange
these a/cs myself but I shall be so confined that I think it doubtful
whether I can leave home. If you have any notes or a/cs due in this
Settlement if you will send them down by John we will Collect them
this fall- John will go to Jacksons sale and if there is any thing
to be sold that will be of service to us he may purchase— I am
going to make a crop this season and if the Negroes hire low we
should like to hire them— The window Glass is in the old house
back of the office—two boxes 10 by 12. and one 8 by 10. the paint
is in the same house also the oil— I think the best plan is to hire
the house to Whitesides he ought to give at least 20 or 25 dollars
p.r Month.
P. S. Eliza has two heifers at town one of them is in the bend
below cow a black—and the other is at Kuykendals, a muly- if
Leal can find them I want him to drive them down