Isaac Lewis Baker residing in Lexington Kentucky to Stephen Fuller
Austin of Upper Louisiana, health-
Transylvania University, July 1st 1810
Friend Stepen,
Whether it is your design to corospond with me or not I am not
able to tell, but if you do not answer this letter shortly after you
receive it I shall conclude you are for a non intercourse and act
accordingly—
From our intimacy during the time you staid here and being
informed by the person who delivered you the letter that I wrote to you
a few days previous to your leaving Lexington, I concluded I should
hear from you as soon as the mail could come from St Geneveive
to this place after you got home—but how much have I been
disappointed. Two months of posts have come and not a scrall from
little Stephen. This agitated my Irish Blood very much and I was
about swearing I never would write to you when the other evening
taking a small breezing towards " old Fowler's place " with a certain
young lady who lives near the upper end of the south side of the
Courthouse or Public-Square—also another who lives one door or
two or three from where you formerly lived and several other lasses
with some lads of the town, the two first mentioned told me I must
write to you immediately and inform you of a certain affair which
[they] think may militate to your disadvantage or I would be sunk
in their esteem for ever and ever—
The impressive and commanding manner in which they delivered
this chilld all the "Irish blood" in my veins So to oblige two young
ladies whom I greatly esteem—and from other considerations I am
induced to write to you and if the sequel holds out in proportion
to the Introduction you will have a confounded long letter of it—
but now to tell the affair the ladies have told me of— Those ladies
aforementioned tell me that our old comrade Butcher that Bloody
minded soul is about to supplant you one mile from Lexington i. e.
at the Lombardy poplar Nursery— They told me to tell you if
you wished to save deal at that place you must make great exertions
or you would be done over tailor' as the vulgar express it. I have
ever since had a particular eye on his actions and from my own
observation and information received from Major John Mclntire
another rival can safely assert that Butcher has been to see her every
evening for one week past. Thus stands the affair. Times are
squally— If you cannot or will not repair to this place
immediately to support your claim recollect I am your sworn friend and
if you will send me a power of Attorney and instructions how to act
I will do the best I can for you— Now for other matters— As
to an entry you made out at the Cave Fielding B------d [sic] having
the oldest patent will certainly non-suit you— And now to lump
your other sweethearts for I cannot notice them all singly, all of
them are surrounded by beaux. I have heard a report that I am
making at two or three of them and no doubt envy or disappointed
has signified as much to you by letter before this by [but] believe
me to be earnest when I say I will not intrude on the premises of
any friends if I know the ground they occupy—
S------that sweet provoking girl the other evening when we were
in chit-chat no one else near thus address'd me—" No young man from
Orleans, Mississippi or Louisianna Terretory ever lived here
without engaging himself to be married to some young lady and amongst
a very great number not one ever returned to discharge his
engagement, and I be bound (Listen well Stephen for indeed-she said it)
that I never will give any of them the opportunity of thus
deceiving me!!" " Oh, gods," As from the agitated ether the swift hurld
Thunderbolt strikes the astounded earth, fell those dire words on
my ear— At length my Irish Blood mounted high in my veins, and
as it passed through my heart washed away every particle of
affection for the ungrateful girl that had gathered round it.—but quick
was her place [possessed by] one who long my bosom has cherished
but [whose] name my tonge would never reveal. She is a beauty
Love—and divinity—but now it is time to quit the affairs of the
heart for those of the head—
I am engaged in studying Rhetoric, Logic Algebra and the reading
of history. I am more studious than ever and enjoying every
advantage my advancement in science is rapid. I will [not]
graduate, but will leave Lexington if I am well and nothing unforeseen
intervenes about the 12th of October for the Mississippi Territory.
At that season it would be impracticable to go down the Ohio so I
will have to go all or part of my way by land. If I were sure of
getting a passage from St Louis or Kaskaska I would go through
Vincennes etc to one of these places and so on as I am axious to see
the country. Please write to me and let me know [if] a passage
at the time I want one can be had Enquire of the officers of Bell
canton and therabouts for the soldiers frequenly pass down about
that time
If no passage can be had or the road from St. Geneveive to the
Chickesaw Bluffs is unpracticable at that season I will go via
Knoxville Savannah and Mobile for the old beaten track I have seen often
enough—
With every sentiment of respect and esteem Your sincere Friend—
Isaac Lewis Baker
Mr. Stephen Fuller Austin
P. S. The professors in good health—The students in number
Sixty two—, McCalla Smith and Lee will Push for degrees at the
close of this session—Your female acquaintances are all in good
health and desire to let little Stephen be told so—Wm Butler
coresponds with me. He was well a few days since. He will be here in
a few days and go to University the rest of the session. J. Bickley
is at home reading history and soon will commence the study of Law
Shannon started to Philadelphia the 12th ult
TOUCH OF THE TIMES
Dr. J. W. takes the rag off the bush a door below your old place
of residence. Dr. McCollough as usual. Charles Morton and Miss
Bright will be married the 5th inst. Mrs. Beck is still crazed Miss
E Price will go to Washington City in November with Mrs Clay
and return in March. A certain Miss Edminton niece of Major
Morrison is reigning beauty. Miss M. Parker has returned. Mrs.
Pope introduced many new fashions etc. The Singing School
Scholars who remain here appear reorganized and we frequently
take airings of an evening. You are expected back next fall. I
expect I will live in New Orleans next winter and Study french
and Law. In the Spring I will return to this place via New York
and Philadelphia and complete the study of law here. In the Spring
of 1812 I expect to get married descend the river and settle some
where in the (Mans or Mississippi Territories etc. All this I intend
doing if [I] live and any young lady will be so good as to enter into
a matrimonial partnership with me. I hope to find such a one in
your parts next fall. Mr. Bradfords and Genl. Russells families
well likewise Mrs. Harts and all the Price's. Maria is with us Big
doings to be over on the 4th Father Cunningham is now preaching
and it being Sabbath I have taken my time in writing so no more
Isaac Baker
I have quit Betsy for a few months
[Addressed:] Mr Stephen Fuller Austin St. Geneveive Upper
Louisiana