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"The Howard-Smith Collection"

Transcription copyright: 1998, by Mrs. F. A. Augsbury; all rights reserved.
The originals are at the McClung Library in Knoxville.

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To: James Gaines, Esq., Sullivan County
From: George S. Gaines, Dixons Springs
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                                               Dixons Springs  Jan. 23rd 1804

D Sir
    I was told yesterday that you had sold your Plantation that you lived on
a circumstance to me truly mortifying as I had determined on quiting this
place for the purpose of trying what I could as with the plough
    I suppose you intend to move to your place adjoining Mr. Everitt which I
think suits you better than the old one if it had the same improvements on it,
but for a man of your small force to settle in the woods amongst so many hop
trees I fear the consequence of it.  if you have enabled yourself to settle
all your debts by selling your plantation, and have savd enough money to build
you a comfortable house-and help to make the necessary improvements on your
new place,  I shall have more hopes of you and my honourable mother, spending
the ballance of your days happy than ever I had
    I hope a few misfortunes (which is trifling to what has been felt by many
famillys, before ours and which I have every reason to think will be forgotten
in a few years perhaps a few months) will not disharten any of our familly so
much as to make them forget that their misfortunes were not owing to their own
bad conduct but to that of their Suposed friends  I have not the smallest
doubt but my sisters will be as careful in the choice of husbands as if their
circumstances were as affluent as they should be.  I hope Brother James will
not leave you until it is convenient for me to come which I think will not be
until October next.  I shall then come home and make it my study to contribute
as much as I can to the honour and wellfare of our familly----I hope you will
not neglect writing to me any longer-I wrote James but never recive any answer

                                            Your Obedient Son
                                               Geo. S Gaines