7

Oak [?] Mo Tues 14th March, 1837
My present manner of life beyond my control
is uncongenial with my feelings, my predelictions,
and is the greatest alloy to the earthly enjoym-
ent destined for me. I am fond of [Se---, ---rtion]
knowledge: the people in this section of the country
have no relish for these things. They aim
to render themselves notable and respectable by
hoarding wealth, yet business is unprosperous
no enterprise, commerce but dull, no [matter]
fortunes and business appears all apathetic.
So there is nothing which is followed for a livelihood. People here
live well are kind, hospitable. As I can not
live lonely, I sometimes visit, but none appri
ciate learning, none patronize the learned. This will be the 3rd
day I have spent in assemblies seeking enjoy
ment in vain.
19th March Sunday evening. I am just abstracted from comp-
any in which I have freely mingled for a week.
During the late sale of the estate of G. Montgomery
I was in all sorts of company. I might make many
useful observations (to myself) [inspecting] what trans-
pired before my eyes during all this bustle, but
to dispatch many things at once, I will just say
that while the valuable earnings of my late
friend [--] were [cou---ing] under that hammer, my
departed friend the [ --- ] [--]was not out of my
mind — I was after sorrowful for his decease, for the
loss I had sustained as a friend, for the loss our country
would sustain by his sad bereavement. But as sorrow
bringeth not back the dead, it is wiser to sustain our
loss with complacent composure. So I too should return
to cheerfulness. At this sale, I plaid a new game. I [---]
a house and field with all app[---] and bought [---]
[--] three and four thousand loads of first-rate lot [--]
for $21.00. Cheap! to speculate all.