Joseph Fawcett Letter 1828-01-05

Folded Letter: Address
January 8th Harrisonburg Va, Paid 12 ½

Mr Lyle B Fawcett, Richmond, Va,

On back of "envelope": Rader is here and tells me he will not set out before thursday. this is therefore sent by mail

Contents
Harrisonburg January 5th 1828

Dear Branson

I have just this moment got home, found all well and found the family removed to the House formerly occupied by Bushell in the midtst of need and Trouble cording their Bedsteads, &etc. you can scarcely Imagine a more uncomfortable journey than I had to be in good health. the roads are wretchedly bad and the horse equally so, if anything worse

Mr. Effinger sends by Rader some Butter and Lard to you for which he wants some articles in the grocery line, trye to oblige him, he appears to be well disposed Towards you. I do not know what may be Raders instructions but from what he said when I last saw him it is possible he may leave part of not all his load with you if he should, you must endevor to procure such articles as he may want. Indeed I think you ought to trye and buy some flour if you could with safety but of this Judge for yourself. I fear that if more is not done in your neighborhood, that the Hill Merchants will take all the flour business from you. however do what you do with great caution if you could only make 4(?) or a quarter on the Barrell and make quick sales, it would help pay your expenses. it would moreover keep up the appearance of doing some business, but as I said befor Judge for yourself. I have been unfortunate in the direction of my own business and therefore cannot with propriety press my opinions on others. one thing however is clear that if you do no business your funds must soon be exausted.

with respect to my self and family I confess I am a little depressed in spirits. the prospect is quite dull Abner is again harping at me to rent Judge Smiths place. he thinks we could make a goodeal by raising Stock. possibly we might but when men can scarcely keep along who have no rent to pay I fear we should get behind besides it would not be a permanent home if we even could make a little at it, and there ought to be some place provided for the family as I cannot according to the ordinary course of things expect to live more than Ten or a Dozen years. there is therefore no time to delay. I scarcely know what to do. He complains and says that I will expend all or friends have advanced in looking about without doing any thing and really there is only too much Truth in the remarks yet I cannot help thinking he is a little selfish with respect to renting Smiths place he in the first place has no respect as to my feelings when he wants to locate me right among those who have suffered by me and who of course will never permit me to enjoy anything in peace until the utermost farthing is paid. moreover he would with his Stock devour every thing we would make besid it is absurd to attempt to make a sailor of a cock or a soldier of a goos as Mr. Jefferson would say altho my pretentions ought to be humble, humble god knows enough. yet I think I might do something more useful for my family and more respectful for myself than to turn keeper of Abners Sheep and Hogs for that would be the result of any attempt at farming here he would never be without some Horses, Hogs or Sheep to eat up every thing as fast as we would make it.

I have no faith in the project of geting me in as keeper of the publick store. It is quite probable that the incumbent will hold in whether the wages is lowered or not and if he does he will be reelected, and if he should decline we may expect Swope and his friends to oppose us. I am led to this conclusion from a remark made by someone to me, that Tapp had said when speaking of reducing the salary of the Store Keeper, he could get a young man who would keep it for $1000. I am satisfied that the young man he refered to is Swope, but admiting I was elected where is the Security to come from I could not ask any one here, and there among strangers such a favor ought not to be expected. Upon the whole it will be as well to send on my trunk and the spare bed by Rader as am satisfied the chance is not worth counting on.

Joseph Fawcett P.S. perhaps it will be as well to keep the trunk and Bed until Col. McMahon s team comes which will leave this thirsday or friday next. by that time something more decisive wil be Indicated. Tell Col McMahon that his family is well that Major Grattan is some what better. Mr Kyes much as he was, poor encouragement from the last letters rec’d of Col Halls recovery.