We have been waiting with anxiety to receive a line from You we
have not had a letter from either you or Brown since last November
since we have directed our letters by the way of New Orleans we
dont know wheather you receive them as we have wrote several to
which we have not recd answers from Information from Judge
Carr and from other reports we been flatering ourselves with a visit
from you the ensueing fall we would be all verry much rejoiced to
see you in Missouri once more. I wrote to you sometime since
respecting a claim of your Fathers in Wyth Go, Va I Recd two
letters lately on the subject one from a James Graham who wishes
to purchase it the other from a Mr James McGarock an old
acquantance of E Bates to whom I wrote on the subject he states
there is a claim of 2000 acres which he says is worth 500$ and would
have been worth 1000$ if the Timber had not been cut off by the
Neighbours Graham offers 500$ for the land just for our quit claim
Deed togather with a Power to sue for Damages don on the premicies
if you visit this Country this fall perhaps by going to see it it may
be worth more or if you dont visit this country soon perhaps it might
be best to sell it for what it will bring as there is Iron works near
it and they are destroying the timber I intend writing to Mr
McGarock to take care of it I dont wish to sell our interest in it
unless you and Brown sell for if we sell our Interest it will give
the person who purchases it a licence to strip the land of Timber
and render [it] worth nothing let me know soon what is best to
be don.
On the 23d July 1827 I enclosed to you a note on Bartlet Sims
in favr of Alfred Lougraben (?) for $798.61. dated 16th augt 1803
which you have never acknoledged the rect of please say whether
you have recd it or not and if you have what prospect there is to
collect it as he has enquired of me about it. I also promised to
enquire of you for Capt John Hutching what the prospect would
be for him to collect a debt which Capt Bell owed him. if you think
he can collect it he will go on to your Country for that purpose I
beleave you know all about the transaction between Bell and
Hutching it was money Hutchings paid for him as his security and if
he is worth it he should pay the debt, it amounts to about $1000.
business at the Mines has become verry dull the Fever River Mines
has stocked the market Lead is now only worth $2.50 at the river
our firm has lost very considerably in the fall of lead the last year
we have made and have Materials on hands to make in all about
1.200.000 lbs on which we will loose from 50c to 2$ per 100 at the
present prices which will make us considerable looses after all the
profits of smelting and the Sale of Medz [merchandise] in payment
for the mine Lands are not considered so valuable in M° as they ware
a few years ago. I have nothing more to add Emily will fill up the
balance My best respects to Brown and his Lady and except my
best wishes for your self
I take Mr Perrys place at the desk to add a few lines, and to
thank My Dear Sister for her welcom Epistle which I received a
few weeks ago, and O! how happy would I be could I but clasp
my Dear little Nephew to my bosom may he continue to grow and
thrive, and become every thing his fond Parents could wish is the
sineear prayer of his Aunt— I should like very much to know what
you and Sir James are thinking about, not a line have I received
from eather of you since last November, Your letters I expect have
been lost, we do not hear from you as frequently now, as when we
directed by the way of Nathetoch [Natchitoches]; I have been
flattering myself all summer with the pleasure of seeing you this Fall;
but shall not look for you untill I see you; our Friends and relations
are all well I had a visit from Adeline, last week, tell Brown that
if he was still Single he might now entrap the Young widdow she
looks remarkably well, and is quit lively— the Children are all
well, your namesake says that he wants to see Uncle Stephen he
must come and bring him a Spanish Horse; if Brown should want a
clerk, Austin will Shortly be cabable to Fill that office;