James F. Perry to Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Jones and Mr. Campell, September 5, 1832

Summary: Perry wrote to bankers in Philadelphia about financial matters. He included a letter from Mr. Gavock pertaining to land sold on credit to Mr. Austin and the former's efforts to get his money back. Also explained to them how some of the money he sent to them did not arrive and promised to send the rest of the money soon. Summarized his business affairs by saying trade looked bleak but should pick up the following year because of increasing numbers of cattle, more cotton being planted, and the removal of Santa Anna's troops.

San Felipe de Austin Septr 6th 1832

Messrs Ferguson Jones & Campbell

Philadelphia

Gentlemen

Enclosed you will receive a Letter to Mr James M. Gavock Fort Chiswell. Wyth County Virginia. requesting him to remit to you the proceeds of the sale of a tract of Land. which he sold for Col. Austin and myself. the Land was sold on a credit and became due on the 14th December 1831 for $650.00 M.M. Gavock wrote me that he would probbably have to sue for it, and that he would loose[sic] no time after it became due so that I think there is not much dout but that it is or will be collected before you will recieve this, there will be some expences and Mr M.Gavocks charge for transacting the business out of that sum, to do me a favour..I taken the liberty of troubling you with it and have to request of you to endeavour to get the money into your hands as it is verry probbably. that I will wont[sic] it in your City.

Perry & Hunter Sent by a friend to New Orleans a sum of money out of which they directed him to remit to you Eighteen hundred and fifty three Dollars together with a draft which John G Stevenson of New Orleans was to remit to Messrs Brown Lewis & Co. they calculated would pay off all their debt in your City. but in consiquence of a check they purchased here on the U. S. Branch Bank at New Orleans being protested our friend writes he only forwarded to you a draft for sixteen hundred and Eighteen Dollars 86/100. he says he purchased the draft from John Hogan & Co. on Messrs Washington Jackson & Riddle of your city at 90 days which I hope you have recd Mr Stevenson has not advised us of the amount he forward to Messrs Brown & Lewis. as soon as we hear from him we will forward to you by the first oppertunity whatever balance may be due in your city by that firm. Hunter & myself have disolved partnership. I still continue the business here. and will wont[sic] some more goods in the course of next winter provided business revives but at present the prospect of sales are not verry good and unless they change. I will not wont[sic] any goods soon. the last season the people here have been paying up for there[sic] lands. which althoug not a large sum to each has made money soares also the withdrawing of all the troops from our frontiers by the Santas Ana[sic] party has depived[sic] us of a nother[sic] source for money but that change we are verry willing to put up with as we were never verry anxious to have troops quarted among us. but we look forward soon for better times. Many of the Inhabitents have commenced raising cotton this year and many more preparing for raising it next which will bring money among us. the stocks of Cattle are also encreasing verry fast and there will soon be large quantities of Beef to export. Our cotton planters here succeed astonishingly. a number of them last year made from $450 to 500$ to hand besides raising plenty of provetion[sic] for the suport of their farms which at the present low prices of cotton is considered doing verry well.

please write to me on rect[sic] of this.

[Endorsed:] copy to

Ferguson Jones

& Campell

Phila[sic]

6 Septr 1832

Source Copy Consulted: James F. Perry to Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Jones and Mr. Campell, September 5, 1832, James Franklin Perry and Stephen Samuel Perry Papers, Records of Ante-bellum Southern Plantations, Series G, Part 1, Reel 13, Frames 84-86