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[ Vol. 2 (formerly Vol. 6) ] [ 332, ... 6.3 ]

Port Jackson
Florida

Friday night - Dec 8th , 1848 -

During the stay (longer or shorter,
as Providence ordaineth) That I make in this
place, I will be bereft , to a very great extent,
of all congenial society, - to make up for which
loss, Philosophy and I must be good companions.
These mud dunked, unhewn walls will afford
a good theatre for our revels - ; the "flow of
reason and the feast of soul" shall be ours --
our table will be spread with strange, and seemingly
incongruous dainties - our chief dish, and requiring
most seasoning, will be the ills and ailings
of the uncouth yeomanry of this portion of the Sunny
South--; you serried rank of volumes, standing in
strange silence (yet ever ready to speak) behind my
saddlebags, will afford the reasoning--; they will tell
us how to dispose of the motley contents of these shelves
around -- their parcels, salves & vials -- your trunk peeping
from beneath my comfortable couch, wll open a
yet unscattered store of less weighty enjoyment -- [Some?]
books -- ye companions of the companionless & ye
speakers of the mighty dead--; my flute & clarionett-
pen and paper --&c. &c. &c-; These are ours --

Well -- I came down here on Monday last
the 4th of December--; embarked on my professional
career -- Capt. Brown & family left yesterday for the
far far west - poor man, the ties that bound him here
drew "like the roots of the Storm loosened tree" --

Mr & Mrs Rusk have moved down this afternoon -- They
have fixed me up nicely in this my comfortable sanctum
sanctorum -- 'tis a glorious night; mild & calm & balmy