Herculaneum Feby-23 1820
Dear Son
I have wrote you now for three Mails past and in two of my letters
I have enclosed you money—I was in hopes I could have by this mail
forwarded you 50 Dollars, but I could not obtain the money I had
expected, inclosed I send you 5 Dollars of Nash Ville money I
cannot obtain any money but State bank of Kentucky Tennessee and
Nashville you must try to get the Nash Ville money exchanged or
get some person in Lexington to forward to Nash Ville and send back
Kentucky there is no other way to manage—I think I shall get 50
Dollars by next mail—I have heard nothing from Washington City
as yet, nor have I heard any thing from your brother lately, but as a
Mail is now established that will run every two weeks—I shall hear
from your brother more constant—I hope you are making exertions
in your Studies—as you have but little time to spend at school you
must improve Day and Night and use all the care you can to advance
yourself everything will depend on yourself whether you advance in
the Navy and I shall be greatly disappointed if you do not make good
use of your time call to mind Daily your Dear Brothers advice and
put it in practice let me again impress your mind to keep well with
your equals in office and obtain the confidence of your superiours
good words and a Courtly Deportment produces wonders towards
advancing a young officer.
Accept my dear son your fathers affections
Moses Austin
[Addressed:] Mr James E. B. Austin Nicholds Ville Kentucky