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Magnolia July 31 1846
Sir this leaves me as before in good helth and wishing it may find you the same I have had some sickness among the negroes fever and chills and fever but I never fail to break the fever in two days I have had as many as five in the house at oce this week but they are all out again but one and he will leave in the morning my corn crop is worse than I expected I think it doubtful whether their will be a nuff for the place next year or not I have 28 double stacks of fodder up and 7 more down I have pulled the uper river field and the racetrack field and one days pulling in the stable field I have bin pulling 11 days with 30 to 35 hands and this weeke part of the time 28 hands but I want to pull one more day in the stable field then I shall quit my cotton looks well and makeing fast the young cotton is from waist to shoalder high to me and very well formed I saw 2 open boals to day for the first I cant scarcely give any ideah how much I will make but I will make a good crop considering if
I have no bad luck by worms for the cotton is verry full of boals I have not cut my ditch yet for the want of time but I think of starteing about thursday or friday next as I shall get through my worst cotton by then my mules looks tolerate well my corn will last 2 weeks yet then I will have to pull we have had no rain for the last 2 weeks except a shower yesterday is cloudy now and likely to rain but I dont concider we neede it respectfully yours J.F.F. Cox
R. C. Ballard
Louisville
K.Y
Natchez Miss July 31st 1846
Col Ballard
Dr Sir
I have sold Mr B. B. Ellis three negroes and have taken a check on you for the money as Mr Ellis told me he had funds in your hands to buy Negroes with I shall have the check sent to Mess J. P. Curtis & 60 for Collection and by your paying it at as early day as possible you will confer a favor on my uncle as he will want the funds in Richmond to buy Negroes with before the 20th of August
Yours Respectfully
Saml H Davis
agent for James & Cochran
NATCHEZ MI JUL 31 10 Col R. C. Ballard Louisville Ky