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Carl
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Disclaimer: The opinions on these pages are those of the writers
and don't necessarily reflect my own views. More...
To: Joseph Fawcett Esqr. P.M.
St. Charles, Mo.
Philada 20 July 40
My [?]evered Sir:
Absent from the City since
the 4th ulti. your fav of the 5th ult; has just reached me. I had waited
purposely to see Curtis off, and intended writing you, but knowing that
he had, it was defered.
At this late date tis scarcly
worthwhile to enter in to details after the receipt of your first letter
to me inclosing one to Curtis; we must patiently wait the result of
his second voyage & then perhaps his friends & himself will
be better enabled to appreciate the considerations which prompted his
determination As you have refered to the expenses incident to
visiting you, tis doubtless right to inform you that as soon as I discovered
his predilections I urged him to visit his parents & offered him
the funds. The vessel to wh. he is attached is a fine Brig, wh. trades
between this port & the West Indies. this trip to N. C. was made
because of the high price of freight. He left here I think on the 28th
June & embarked from N. Y. about the first July. I have the pleasure
of finding a letter from him dated Wilmington July 8th I already infer
he has in some measure relented his course. he says in order to describe
the manner "in which I was tossed, tumbled and knocked about by the
billows, until sleep appetite and almost life itself had departed
it would require my tongue oiled and in full operation all the spare
time I shall have on my return." He arrived in this port about the 20th
& left for Barbadoes about the 27th July & I understand fr.
my partner he left in good spirits. Should he thro the mercies
& Providence be permitted to return, I shall make it my business
to endeavour to ascertain from him, whether the pursuit is congenial
with his inclination & feelings. judging from the tone of his letter,
I am strongly inclined to believe his mind has been happily operated
upon, the first trial afforded him ample opportunity for reflection
-- & the character of his mind is not to receive the experience
of others as a standard for the govt. of his opinions. Do you my dear
Sir ever hear from Willis? but why ask you the question when
my own knowledge of him & his affectionate heart responds in the
affirmative, it tis because I cannot get any intelligence from him myself.
I know his devotion to his aged & revered parents prompts him to
keep you acquainted with his operations again & again have
I written him to know how is getting on brighter days may yet come to
us both we are knit together by many tender ties & tis a
heavy trial to be thus parted from him. I do trust he will utterly abandon
the Texas project Yr old & attached friend Danl Bryan Esq.
has written him on the subject. My recent trip was in Virginia as far
west in the Valley as Salem botelant[?] Co. with the view of enlarging
my mercantile acquaintance, which I find is absolutely necessary. Mr.
Bryan gave me a of introduction to his brother Allen C. who kindly facilatated
my object tho we had our customer in Harribg. viz Saml. Shucklett
whilst there I met with several of yr. intimate friends who very affectionately
inquired of me for Willis & Curtis & I had the satisfaction
of seeing the very house where they were both born (as I was told) I
was also, at Staunton & passed yr. last place of residence in Va.
I could almost imagine I saw Willis in persuit of the deer in 1830.
Near Staunton I met with Mr. Wharttenbaker who manifested a most lively
interest in yrself & family.
In relation to the
old classic wh. the govr. has renewed, every exertion I am capable of
shall be made towards arresting it & I regret exceedingly I had
not known of it when I was lately in Washington. I hope yrself and family
continue in the enjoyment of health, you will accept my kindest &
best wishes for you all.
Wm C. Ellison
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Source: Handwritten
original in the private collection of the Chambless family. Transcribed
to softcopy by Susan D. Chambless, 1999.
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