I got home on the 12th June found all well with the addition of a
fine Son, I would have wrote to you sooner but from the unsettled
state of my business I heardly knew what to say. I find it will be
a tedious task to settle it all up and take more time than I expected,
from the most moderate calculation S. Perry and myself made we
calculated we had on hands lead to pay all the debts of the firm and
have some left. S. Perry has returned he only sold part and from
the present prices I am afraid there will not be enough to pay off
the debts of the firm, which will derange my calculations verry
much I will of necessity have to remain here untill they are all
paid. We have a considerable sum in the Country but times are so
dull and money so scarce it is verry dificult to make collections I
am anxious to move this fall but I find it will be imposible Emily
is not willing to move in the spring for fear of sickness for my
part I think there would be no danger if we could get there in March
or April, but I expect we will be governed by your advice. I sold
our house and lots we live on to Hutchings for Bells notes and
expect to sell another place in a few days to John Perry for goods
to be recd in Phila If I do so I will be in Phila the last of Sept. if
I can get off if not I will send Mr Hunter with that we will have
about 2000$ to lay out in goods in addition to our present stock
which is not less than 3000$ we will try and get them in in the month
of November.
While on the bay you promissed to give me a copy of an endenture
to take on our negroes, Which was forgot in the hurry at S Felipe
please send me one. from all the laws I see on the subject I am
apprehensive an endenture on those under age would not be good
we have Eight and only 3 or 4 of them is of age give me your
advise on that matter to loose them after I get them there would
be a serious loss to me. There has been a considerable stir here
about Texas but the unsettled state of the Govrnt is a great obsticle.
A good many talks of going but I doubt whether many will move
or not S. T Dunklin says he will go to see it this fall I told
him you had reservd a tract for him near the bayJohn Jones talks
of starting in September by land When I read your letter which
was recd in my absence stating the particulars of the grants you
obtaine'd for us I was mortifyed not because the grants ware
different from what I understood but at your silance on that subject
to me. What the object of your silance was I am at a loss to
conceive. When with you on the bay I thought you was verry reserved
towards me but did not expect you would have been reserved in
anything that related to the sole object of my journey to that
country. Why not tell me the nature of the grants and how you
intended to locate them. This I certainly think you ought to have
don. from my understanding of your letter the intention of the
Grant to Emily is for her eldest children which was perfectly right
in you to do so when you had it in your power. And it would
have been much more satisfactory to me if you had desclosed your
views to me there. With regard to these children I have no
reflections to make on myself I have always don for them and by them
as well as I would have or could have don if they had been my own.
Through the hole course of my life I have ever acted candidly
towards both relatives and friends and hope ever so to do and
would wish them to act so towards me. this I believe is the best
course to gain and retain the confidance of each other.
The suit in N Jersey is expected to be determined in October
next S. Perry is in a verry delicate health I think it doubtful
whether he is long for this world. A great many of our friends
here think we are going a wild goos chase when we start for Texas.
Is James Austin alive yet I am afraid not. I have not seen
Hammond I dont know whether he is going to Texas or not. Woodson
was here last week to talk of moving Henry Bates I hear has give
out the notice I have nothing more to ad. alls well, adue—