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{ Col. Ballat Waren County Warrenton Mississippi Magnolia}
Houston May 6th 1853 Dear Sir Permit me to address you a few lines which I hope you will receive soon, I am at present in the city of Houston in a Negro traders yard, for your orders I was present at the Post Office when Doctor Ewin took your letter out through mistake and red it a loud not knowing I was the person the letter alluded to, I hope that if I have ever done or said any thing that has offended you that you will forgive me for I have suffered enough cince in mind to replay all that I have ever done, to any one, you wrote for them to sell me in thirty days, do you think after all that has transpired between me & the old Man,) I dont call names that its treating one well to send me off among strangers in my situation to be sold without even my having an opportunity of choasing for my self; its hard in deed and what is still harder for the father of my children to sell his own offspring yes his own flesh & blood My god is it possible that any free born American would hand his charites with such a stigma as that, but I hope before this he will relent & see his error for I still beleave that he is possest of more honer than that I no too that you have influence and can assist me in some measure from out of this dilema and if you will god will be sure to reward you, you have a family of children & no how to empathize with others in distress I require or ask for an agent to be appointed hear to see to me, [?] to earn the money honestly to buy my [?] I have to work my finger ends off I will earn [? ?] every dime I do think in future
[?] children should be set free I [? ?] for my self altho my youthfull day [?] out in the service and grattification of the [?] now wants me & his children sold is it Posible that such a change could ever come over the spirit of any living man as to sell his child that is his image I dont wish to return to harass or molest his peace of mind & shall never try get back if I am dealt with fairly. I no that you have been prejudist against me, by what [Purssel?] told you one day you will find who is the rascal & who has injured you must I have no motive in saying to you any thing but the pure truth, when you came to know all that she has said relative to you & matters concerning your family you will perhaps not have so greate a confidence in all the tales she fabricates I wish you to reflect over the subject and see if some little could be shown me for that mercy & pity you show to me god certainly will show you what can I say more if I ever have spoken hastily that which I should not I hope you will for give me for I hope god has, I am humbled enough all reddy hear a mong strangers without one living being to whom I have the least shadow of claim upon, my heart feels like it would burst a sunder It will not be long ere I am confined, & the auther of my suffering, to be the means of my being thrown upon the charity of strangers in the hour when I most need a simpathizing friend, is [? ?] that [?] to receive for makeing some [?] for his [gratfification?]
will [you? ? ] let me hear from you & say what you [? ? ] are relative to the proposition I make I no [you are] honerable high minded man and in your [?] moments you would wish justice to be done to all & if I am a servent there is some thing due me better than my present situation I have writen to the Old Man in such a way that the letter cant faile to fall in his hans & none others I use my precaution to prevent others from knowing or suspecting any thing I have my letters writen & folded put in to envelop & get it directed by those that dont know the contents of it for I shall not seek ever to let any thing be exposed, unless I am forced from bad treatment Virginia Boyd
7th May 1853 Mr R C Ballard Dear Sir
I went to Natchez two [? ?] ago to settle with the Planter's Bank for [? ?] on the two Planters Bank [notes? ? ] I gave you & Mr. Earnest as [? ?] bond Mr. Mandeville could not find the bond. I said you had taken it now I think it likely he is mistaken. If you have it can you either send it to me or to Mandeville at Natchez. please write me on the rect of this where my my bond is & who I am to pay any balance due on the notes as I am & have been ready for the last eight years to pay them but but first one thing & then another I lastly await of garnishment was served on me the last payment was made to me in March & I am anxious to close out & be done with it please dont fail to let me know & oblige an old friend Yrs Truly &c D.C. Humphreys
Mr R. C. Ballard Esqr Care of Mr. [H?] Warrenton Miss
pr Frank Lyon