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New Orleans 6th Feby 1854
R C Ballard Esq Dr Sir
Its now 11 Oclock & I have only line to say to you that the Brigg Uncas has Just come up Two negroes sick and the Capt reports the rest in good order times still more Gloomey have nearly all of the negroes shiped by the Tribune on hand accept those that are tested the Cholera is still here & we have an occastional case but have only lost one or two since my last no slales making in this place & but few purchasers and they swear they will not pay the price I do not know what will become of us from the present prospects we will be compelled to sell for a loss I do not believe that Brisk sales could be made for cash at even six hundred Dollars I never have experienced such times in my life before you had better sell all you have on hand and try to pay or put off all your [dates?] Adieu Isaac Franklin
The banks are doing nothing I tryed every Bank in the City for a check on the north none will Check at any rate not even for five hundred Dollars & Armfield writes that sixty day Bills is no more there / Blank paper as none of the Banks in your Quarter will discount them IF
NEW-ORLEANS La. Feb 18
R C Ballard & Co
Richmond Virginia
Natchez March 7th 1834
Dear Ballard A few days since I received a lot of 50 negroes from New Orleans here in hand about 75 at present am selling a few but at reduced prices for paper & whiskey hard to tell what kind of paper is good for Several good houses or supposed to be good (have failed lately. McNeill Wilkerson & Co Harris Fergurson & Co of this place & several in N Orleans We have some of those houses acceptances but can hope the planters that drew the Bills will pay at maturity Your friend Louis A Collier had taken McWilkerson & Co for nearly all he has sold this will wind him up & I am affraid we shall not be able to do any thing next Season for the want of Cash. Russell & Jeffres are selling Slowly & I think they will not be in your way for they have received but little or no Cash. We cannot sell for cash.
R.C.B. If we should wind up well this spring & not suffer any loss by paper we shall have done a fine business.
at least [& expenses?] & cannot collect if we can only pay the drafts drawn on us by Armfield & yourself. & have as much money left to get you out of debt I shall be satisfied to do nothing this season I have sold a great many negroes Since Uncle Isaac went to N Orleans but for one & two year paper, paper cannot be discounted @18 pct the best in this Place I intend to select my paper from this time that I receive for Negroes. If those times continue I believe every person in the county will be under Protest for it has become so fashionable We shall sustain great losses by this pressure & I am affraid of much by paper. I suppose of course, you are not buying any Cuffs at present for if you wish to purchase negroes write me & you can have them at your price for cash, subject to your order
Yours as usual Isaac R. Franklin
The old man sent me your Maid Martha. She is inclined to be corpulent.
R C Ballard Esq
Richmond Va