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New Orleans May 25th 53
Coln Ballard
Dear Sir
I wrote you on Tuesday
and mailed the letter I have nothing Special at
this time to write you all well here at my house
but considerable cholera in the city Dr [Gustive?]
formerly of Natchez died with it on Friday night
last and two negroes next door to me at I
T Hutchens died with it last weak I wish to
leve here on the Eclipse 3d of June & would
like to have you go up on her Write me
& I will take your letter for you nothing
doing in the trade here I can neither buy
or sell [Panell?] is through and leaves to day
the market I think is about closed for the
season Talbot leaves on the Belle Key to day &
will take up about 20 with him Cotton
[fine?] which you will see by the papers the
River high_ & some say will overflow but I
dont think so. your man Hodge settled
his Bank debt but has not paid Fellowes & Co
yet Some friend loaned him the money to pay
the Bank. Write me by return Boat.
Respectfully
yrs
CM. Rutherford