TNGenWeb Project/TNGenNet, Inc., (a Tennessee nonprofit public benefit corporation). "The Howard-Smith Collection" Transcription copyright: 1998, by Mrs. F. A. Augsbury; all rights reserved. The originals are at the McClung Library in Knoxville. This file is in text format. Please use your browser's "back" button to return to the previous page. ********************************************************************************* To: James T. Gaines, Rossville, Sullivan County, Tennessee From: George S. Gaines, Dixons Springs --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dixons Springs May 8 1804 Dear James Agreeable to your request I shall trouble you with another letter. By this time I hope you are safe arr'd. in Tennessee with an amount of a final settlement with Taylor & Ross You will much oblige me by writing now whether or no you have settled it to your liking as I am impatient to hear What think you of going to Louisiana this fall to see the country & find whether there is any speculations to be made there in the way of land or no. if you go I should be very glad to accompany you if Father can start me a horse I hope to save cash enough by October to defray the expenses of such a journey I want your advise whether you think it will be most to my interest to stay where I am or try my fortune in the Wilderness of Louisiana. Mr. Allen's wishes me to stay with him very much, on our settlement. I found myself conciderable in debt they very willingly ballanced my acct which amounted to upward of thirty dollars more than my wages they offered me 150 Dollars & let me have my goods for my own ware at first cost or 200 & have my goods as I had them last year their treatment has been so very kind to me that I could not ask any more I have agreed to stay with them the present year for the first mention'd sum. They have also said that should they be fortunate in sales this year they will put me into Business for myself the next year. I would say without hesitation that I do not like those ifs, though I supose it is their intention to be of Servise to me in that way as they made the offer without my even hinting a thing. I am somewhat concernd about Edm'd I have wrote him seveal letters & have rec'd no answer if yourself or any any of the familly has rec'd a line from him I would be glad you would let me hear where he is I suppose you have heard nothing of Francis I am satisfied he is dead. has sister Edgman recoverd of her sickness or not how covers on David Childress & his familly. Jack Should be sent to school by all means & after he has got sufficient learning he should be bound to a Taylor-it is an excellent trade in this country the Taylors have all made good livings. I wish you would tell them the necessity of of such a measure I fear David will be too neglectful in schooling his childrin James is a boy of excellent_____(?) he ought to have good schooling I am very lonesome & want you to write me some good long foolish letters like this to help to amuse my solitary hours. Accept my Best wishes for your happiness Geo S. Gaines I have made a small contract with a very jenteel person and find I cannot comply with my part of it and therefore wish to be off but must have some good excuse I wish you to have your next letter tempered for the purpose write me of the misfortunes of the family, those parts only that relates to property as father has had to pay so large a sum to pendleton & Taylor etc. see that it has reduced him so much that I need not look for any thing from that quarter etc. etc. You know just how to temper it.