Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2015.02.0036 |
Object Name |
Letter |
Date |
1819 |
Title |
1819 February 4 John Brown to Samuel Brown |
Scope & Content |
Letter from John Brown (Frankfort, KY) to Samuel Brown (Philadelphia, PA). John Brown discusses James Brown's arrival in New Orleans and the condition of James' plantation, and his election to the United States Senate. John discusses Orlando's and Mason's studies, and Orlando's dispute with his college roomate. Brown mentions the need for insurance for his home and recent fires in Frankfort. Brown discusses the debate in the State Legislature concerning the appointing of commissioners to help establish the line between Kentucky and Tennessee, and the surveying and selling of land in that area. Brown discusses navigation and dams on the Schuylkill River, and a similar issue on Elkhorn Creek. [Transcription] Frankfort 4th. Feby. 1819 Dear Brother Inclosed [sic] you have a few lines to James in reply to the one I rec'd from him-Since my last I have rec'd a letter from James Brown announcing his safe arrival at N. Orleans after a passage of 64 days from Havre. Also his election to the Senate of U.S. a few days after he reached that port. He stated that finding his Plantation in fine order & better managed than when he was present he was induced once more to offer his services to his State rather than incounter [sic] that Ennui which is inseparable from a state of total inaction. He and Nancy enjoy fine Health. He inquired particularly for you stating that he had not rec'd a line from you since he set out for Europe. By the last mail I had the pleasure to receive yours of the 13th. Jany covering one to you from Mason from whom I at the same time received one of three sheets giving me a very satisfactory account of the reestablishment of his health & of the course of study in which he has been engaged. I am also much pleased to find he has relinquished the idea of visiting Kenty. next summer. We generally hear from him weekly & write him as often. We also hear almost weekly from Orlando. I regret to find from his last the he has had a difference with Mr. Claggett his room mate & has been under the necessity of changing his Room. He has not mentioned the cause of quarrel but I suspect it was of a political nature knowing him to be somewhat intemperate on that subject. Will you be so good as to drop him a line & recommend to him greater moderation & forbearance? I thank you for your ready attention to the commission I troubled you with relative to obtaining insurance upon my House & hope your application for that purpose will be attended with success, as I do not feel quite as safe as when my House was exclusively in my own possession. We have had some alarms of fire in town this winter but have sustained no damage as yet. Our Legislature are yet in session & engaged in passing an Act appointing Commissioners to run & establish the line between this State & Tennessee, also for surveying & selling the lands acquired by the late Treaty & lying between that line the Tennessee & Mississippi rivers. It is proposed to lay them off in Township Sections & to sell at auction at Smithland, selling the Sections marked with odd numbers first & those with even numbers at a future day. When Cash was plenty & the fever raged those lands from their situation & quality would have sold high but I expect they will now sell low, as few have money to spare & the embarrassments of this Country rather increase than diminish. I hope you have succeeded in selling some of your Alabama lands. They will certainly fall in price very soon. I am anxious to hear from you more particularly respecting the mode of improving the navigation of the Schulkill [sic] by Dams. If the Locks attached to them can be rendered secure against Ice & extreme high water they will no doubt answer for this River. The people of Lexington have I suppose had some information on this subject as some of them are much elated with the prospect of rendering Elk Horn boatable by means of Dams up to their Market House. The weather continues immensely fine, more like April than mid Winter. In this quarter remarkably healthy. Adieu, J. Brown [Address Block] 50 Doctor Samuel Brown Mail Philadelphia |
People |
John Brown James Brown Samuel Brown Orlando Brown Mason Brown |
Search Terms |
New Orleans, LA Schuylkill River Elkhorn Creek Tennessee Kentucky Kentucky State Legislature Fire Insurance Philadelphia, PA |