4

{in pencil: Mar 20 1857}

Polk, urging him to meet me then &
there. I hope within three or four days
after the Convention, to proceed to
Beersheba taking McMinnville "en route"
and trust that my wife or daughter
-- perhaps both may accompany me.
I do not propose to visit East Tenn: be=
=fore that time.

Allow me to express the gratifica=
=tion I feel in learning that you
are in the occupancy of your "{illegible: First? Final?}
Home." Since your marriage I have
lost sight of you. I hope that you & your
gifted wife have enjoyed days of unin=
=terrupted happiness & prosperity : and
that you may long live to feel that
noblest & purest of all earthly pleasures, -- the
pleasure of making others happy.

With the tender of my most respect=
=ful salutations to Mrs. French I remain
very truly yr faithful friend & servant

Ja. H. Otey