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commences opposite here and is to go to Little Rock, Arkansas. No stores from here
to the mouth. One side of the river or the other below this is inundated for
40 miles in the interior. Scarcely any landing place in Arkansas: but
Helena below this - have the necessity of making this road which is to be
raised above all inundations - at the expense of $10,000.00 per mile - and
hence the importance of this place. Vicksburg is the next location on this
side 400 miles below. Cotton plantations all about here - people do not
raise their own food - which, of every description is brot here in arks,
boats, etc., from the Ohio. Some of these boats have blacksmith shops on
board - others have superior furniture. All steam boats going up and
down stop here for provisions d & c from these arks. Last year 1,300
steam boats stopped here - year before 800 - year before that 400. Major
Bowman ascertained that on his National Road now making, and where
he has 500 hands about 100 of whom are Negroes, there passed going to
the West 1,200 persons, 100 heavily laden wagons with cattle, all in
month of September. Memphis is 10 miles north of Mississippi - all of the
northern part of state belonged until very lately to the Chickasaws. All the
country west and south of the Tennessee River is level. Bayou is a channel
leading from one river to another - this is common here -thus, there is a
bayou from the Mississippi to the Yazoo. At Memphis there are 2,000
inhabitants rapidly increasing. Here or near here, the Episcopalians of
the place say, Bishop should reside - and the college should be here, for
which provisions could be obtained cheaper from the river, than in any
part of the states. In the evening Major Bowman and Mr. S and Mrs. H
being present a warm discussion concerning our Church - it want of zeal
-and the slowness of her movements. President Mason of Newark
College lately called here - and declined. Here as at New Orleans will have
a star or no one - this one cause of the difficulty of putting a clergyman in
the South-West. They have offered $1,600 and can offer more, and will
build a church.

20. Had a good room. Some hours with Mr. Skipwith who has lately
brot his wife here, an Episcopalian from western Virginia. Her borther,
Colonel Cary and her two sisters - now living on a plantation in the late
Chickasaw Country. Dinner Gumbo soup with oyesters and chickens - fresh
oysters - roast beef, cranberries, cider - excellent coffee. Mr. Skipwith
considered the great majority in his country treat their slaves well - and
the greater part of the slaves are attached to their masters. On his return
to his plantation he is greeted in the warmest and loudest manner. He
often hears them signing and dancing til midnight. He pays them for
extra work. Each family has a house - supplied by him with cooking
utensils etc. -and days allotted to repair their houes, etc. Each family has
chickens. He never sells unless they wish to be sold. When one of his
marries the slave of another master, he busy or sells, if he can, that the
couple may remain together. The Major showed me teeth of an aligator
-two of the finest ivory which he got from one 22 feet long. His workmen