137

130
1834 5m The National difficulty is still kept up It appears that many have taken their stand in favour of the President, and are determined to support his measures regardless of the consequences, and the two parties are so equal in numbers, that many are apprehensive a civil War will ensue. But still, strong hopes are entertained that it will be evaded for of late, business in the commercial seaports seems to increase & money circulates more freely than heretofore. And the Jackson party, or the Present administration party is on the decline in some places very rapidly. But at present there are no decided measures taken place in Congress, although many expedients have been resorted to without effect.

1834 For several years past I have spent considerable time in collecting materials for a History of Nantucket But not expecting that it would be published, what I had collected was in a private manner not wishing the public should know any thing about it. Since this year came in finding I had collected enough for a volume of 300 pages, I concluded to cause it to be published.
4th m/o
In order that it should come before the public in a good handsome style, I agreed with Wm. [WILLIAM] Coffin Jnr. to rewrite the whole of my collection & fit it for the press, & for me to make such additions as we should find useful, For his services he is to be equal with me in all respects, both as the profit or loss. It is likely the Books will be ready for the subscribers in the Spring of 1835.