Durham Hall Jany 4th 1813
Mr. James Bryan,
Dear Sr I reeved you[r] last favour under-date of Octbr 6th
day before Yesterday only. My last letters from my son Stephen
from New Orleans was under date of 2 Novr—he then contemplated
to leave that City in a day or two and as I have nothing from him
since I hope he has closed his business and left the Country, sence
I wrote you last, little business has been don in the mineing or
Smelting of Lead in consequence of the extreme badness of the
weather Shebboleth is nearly abandoned, and such as remain are
doing nothing. I have been raising mineral to Some advantage my
Shaft is dry and produces as Well as I have don in times past, last
month gave me 20 Thousand, I hope to raise as much this month,
Collections are bad and I see little prospect of the Miners beeing
in a Situation of makeing payment this Year, if they had a
disposition which is generally wanting.
I do not think your brother or Mr Bates has collected 200 Dollars
the last six months Thompson has not yet paid, in short no man
pays a dollar, lead Never was so difficult to collect, and I am
clearly of the Opinion that Ten thousand Dollars would,—
Command Every Pound of Lead for sale this spring and Winter Would
to god I could command that Sum a Speculation of moment could
be made but I have not the means, I think I shall make up 60
thousand by April. If my prospects continue and Indians do not
disturb us
I could not advise many goods being brought to the Country.
Not but they would sell readely—but the pay is the question—the
situation of the People is such that they cannot pay. You would
be astonished to see the change in all Orders of Citizens in the
Article of dress Indian dressed Buckskin for Overhalls and frocks
are now as universal as broadcloth used to be, notwithstanding
goods of a proper kind will sell Such as I have heretofore stated
to you but I am clearly of Opinion that 5 thousand Dollars in
Cash would produce double the neet produce in a Year than
10 Thousand Dollars in goods, because No man would calculate
on asking Credit on Money, but goods at the prices they must sell
at, purchased at War Marketts cannot be sold in this Country for
ready, pay, to, much advantage, Lead is now 375 in St Genevieve
part goods and 400 in Herculaneum, Cash, a Cargo purchased at
even 450 and sent up the Ohio would do better than goods as I
cannot suppose the expence of transportation to Philadelphia over
6 Dollars pr Hundred which would Make the cost 950 in
Philadelphia and If 14 or 15 can be obtained the Neet proceeds would
out do any advance on goods, and all in hand, nothing on Credit.
As to Indians I have a hope we shall not be troubled with them I
think the mine a Burton a safe place much more so than any other
place in the Territory because no body of hostile Indians are in
our quarter and cannot get to us untill they pass the Settlements
of Saint Charles—Yet I am inclined to Suppose that the Militia
will be called on in the spring unless the U S government sends us
troops.
I have seen an account of a machine said to be const[r]ucted by a
man by the name of Readhefer about 10 miles from Philadelphia
Which gives, perpetual, motion, I have a desire to know more of
this machine and If you could find time to Visit the [place] and
examine the machine you your self and if to [be obtained?] git a
Drawing of the machine I wish you to, do so. the advantages to be derived
from the use of such an invention in the Western Country passeth all
the Ideas and imagination of man, I am only doubtful it is not true. I
wrote you some time since respecting a Mine of Antimony which had
been discovered near the River Illinois Mr Elias Bates has information
how to find the Mine. If a lead can be obtained; he also say[s] he
has not any Doubts as to the goodness and quantity—this is also an
object of great magnitude and worthy of attention, on both of these
subjects I wish you to be attentive—If you can find time
I also wrote you my opinion on the opening towards Mexico, I
have had Nothing to change a belief that an adventure to that
Country would be both safe and advantageous As to a general assortment
of English goods in this Country I do not think payment could be
obtained so as to make the thing profitable except in the Articles I
have mentioned. I am fully of the Opinion that many goods may be
Sold but a life of labour could not collect the payment.
I have so long contemplated the Arrival of my son Stephen to
attend my family to this Country, that I am truly distressed at this
delay, and must depend on you to make with Mrs Austin the
arrangements Should my Dear Son Not arrive in time Which god grant
May Not be the case all I can say is that .... [mutilated]
Could leave Orleans .... which I have recvd Nothing . . .
I cannot Express my mortification at his Misfortunes and detention,
but, gods, will be don little did I expect to be thus long deprived of
the Company of my Dear family
I am D Sr With esteem Yours
Moses Austin [Rubric]
N B the appointment of the Counsel for this Territory Was
nomi-nated by the Assembly and the following Gentlemen were named—
St Louis
Aug Choutau
Saml Hammond
St Genevieve
Colo Cook
M Austin
John Scott Lawyer
James Maxwell
John Smyth
John McArthur
The other members I can not Name