ENPages
New Orleans 9th April 1834
R C Ballard Esq
D Sir
I have just recd from Mr. R Franklin a letter in answer to one I wrote relative to Franklin Ballard & Co acct and also relative to Ballard & Alsops Acct he states that he has collected for B & A $5126 11/100 Dollars and that we had only recd in Cash on recpt Franklin Ballard & Co Sales only $48000 & that the 5121 11/100 dollars Recd on acct of B & A was charged in his last remittance of 14,000 when I left Natchez I was so hurried that I neglected to mention it indeed I did not recollect it. All I knew was that I had the 16,000 Dollars to remit to you F B & Co and will have lotts of paper and Franklin Armfield & Co will not have a Dollar out of this years sales I never have experienced such distressing times in the whole course of my life I have had more dificulty and trouble this season than my shear Armfield complains & you complain I have done all in my power to sustain and protect the whole of the [c?] & yet I cannot give satisfaction every Dollar I am worth in the world and more two is hung up in paper an no chance to discount any unless at a onerous discount I see no chance for business next season unless times changes and your banks will assist us if we could only had prudence to have held
and purchasd sparingly we should have done much better in fact if we had the money the whole of the negroes cost I could buy moore and better paper than we have however I have no Doubt you all done for the Best, yet if we ever collect we have made a hansome profit the Land pirates are comeing Down to sell there paper and they find that where they take off the [?] they will not have cost for there negroes I assisted in scining your friend,Coyer Collier he had some good paper Hoopes & Moore & B Hughes Walker of Natchez endorsed by P M Lapier and accepted by the Widow Miner & same accepted by Eli Montgomery amting to upwards of 12,000$ I was called on by the Shaver for information I told him I would give him no information on the subject unless he would following advice he said he would I then told him that Collier had a payment to make the next day and he must say to him he Collier must endorse the whole of the paper and Discount Thirty prct and the man followed my directions Got the thirty prct fr Amn Drs and Colliers Indorsement I learn that the ballance of the paper he has could not be discounted for half off and unless he can make many arangements with you he will not trouble you much this season he is making Desperate efforts to form several consernes with other traders I
We have Recd very little money from sales this season and the most that has been paid out & remitted was raised from F & A last year and the year before lasts business but no matter
Let me hear from you frequently give me your views
suppose with a view from what I learn he he will have use for all the funds that he can possibly raise here to pay his Bills and in order to meet his Bills here he has borrowed from several of the Traders and Given Bills on Richmond should that be the case unless he has very strong Backers he must make a Loosing business he looks as much like a thief as any man I have ever seen in my life the convick Band was hawked all about Natchez and every man I am told traded with him as tho they were trading with a Thief & the way they will see him and enjoin the Callahans will be sinful Old fellow our business is Two large unless I had more help its a sin to kill up the old fellow if you could see me you would be sorry my spirits [pride?] and health impaired but dont Give up the Ship will hang on to the seniment and Die hard do the best I can for all conserned and the best can do no more if times should change a little and you can see your way & can borrow money from the banks for 60 or 90 Days with an understanding that you pay the notes by bill an we at 4 or 6 months purchase sparingly at the low price for should the money market become easey the price will raise so soon as those pirates gets Back but you know that it will not do to sacrafice Good paper at from 20 to 30 pct I could have got off the same paper that Collier sold at 30 pct Dist at 18 to 20 if I had put my name on it at 15 Adieu as usual Isaac Franklin
let me hear from you frequently give me your views on all the matters say wat can be done I hope to get something here through the Bank in June
[illegible]
R C Ballard Esq
Richmond
Virginia
White Hall near Natchez April 16th 1834
R.C. Ballard Esq
Dr Sir I have sold out all but about five house girls 5 girls for the field and one old man and 3 house boys making about 15 negroes which is a hard a lot to get off to any one person I have sold first but cannot get my cost. I though it better to sell for paper as cash could not be had Some of traders have been here for 3 or 4 mths & have not near sold out. They tryed to Sell for cash & reputed paper and are Willing at present to take paper at at least a decline in price of 15 pct from from what they might have sold for in the Winter. [G Gorlowe?] is at present at my house and he says he about 10 on hand W H Dinglays has left about the same number with Mr Edwards you have no idea the scarcity of funds The best paper cannot be discounted @ 30pct The Banks will not disct any paper at any time We find it very hard to Collect one third of our notes & Bills of last year I am affraid we shall all have to stop this season for the want of cash to purchase sundrys you and Armfield can make some arrangement to borrow funds for a short time & have it understood you are to pay by a bill on us
We have about 60 Thousand dollars to pay yet. Should you purchase a good lot for Walking I will bring them out by land this summer My present impression is I shall [leave?] for New Orleans in a few days and shall carry what I [?] have in hand with me. I shall be compelled to [?] N Orleans before I leave to settle up my books after I got [?] of what Uncle Isaac has done below. I have your Charlottesville maid Martha on hand She answers by the name of Biz Cupp I am happy to say to you I have changed very much since I saw you. have become very virtuous how is it with you Adieu I am nearly ruined I sold Paddy my little horse fr $300. Martha sends her best Respects and says she wants to see you very musch.