Letter to Laura Ann Arnold (Jackson)

Containers:

Box 1, Folder 72

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards family news.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Lexington, Va.
Oct. 6th 1855

My Dear Sister,
Your letter of the 29th Sept. came safely and I am obliged to you for your advise in regard to Wirt, and I agree with you in regard to the course to be pursued. I had previously taken precautions against any such consequences as you refer to. My arrangement with regards to the purchase of land is this. That he should go out and make a selection of such a farm as would fulfill certain conditions, and previous to the purchase the transaction must be approved by Uncle Alfred Neale in the event of his being in Missouri at the time, if not then Cousin William Neale must approve of it. Upon complying with all the conditions, Uncle Alfred Neale is to forward endorse a note which I left in his hands and after getting the money out of the Bank to forward a check for it on [N. T.?] payable to the order of Cousin William Neale. And when the deed is made out in my name Cousin William is to pay the money. So the money is entirely beyond Wirt's control. Cousin Wm. Neale has advised Wirt to do as you recommended, viz. to raise stock & I suppose that he will do so.

When Wirt shall have purchased land, then I expect to furnish him some money to enable him to work it. This he may be able to dispose of, but I will be on my guard about entrusting him with it if there is any danger of [Will?/him?] going back to Uncle Thornton's

I am thankful to you for having written a plain letter to Wirt upon his conduct. I have received a letter from Wirt dated Sept. 19th in which he states that he had reached William Neale's but in going up the Mississippi River the boat was s[wamp?]ed and he left his berth to go forward leaving his purse under his pillow and when he returned it was gone. He says that the country is very healthy. But that improved land is worth from 25 to 30 dollars per acre. Cousin Wm. has advised him to go elsewhere and he is going to look at the lands of Johnson County. He expresses himself pleased with the country and I hope that he may do well. I do not want him to go into a free state if it can be avoided for he would probably become an abolitionist and then in the event of trouble between the N & S he would stand on one side and we on the opposite. Tell Mr. Arnold that next year I want to go West and make investments in land and would be glad could he go along and make some purchases for himself if he desires to make such.

[end of letter in margins of this and previous pages]

William Woodson says that he acknowledges his obligation to assist Wirt but that he is not able. I agree with him that land in a free state rises most rapidly. But I have a scheme on hand which I think approve of and which I will give in my next.

Your affectionate brother
Thomas

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Correspondence

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