St Genevieve Decr 26 [1821]
Mr James Bryan
Dr Sir Mr Hatch from the Little Rock caleled on me yesterday
Eight days from that place— I am happy to Inform you he passed
Brother Henry and party Friday morning near the Crossing of St
Francis River— all in good health and high glee— Henry
inform[e]d you of the proposed arrangements for Quieting all
further altercation between the contending parties—Hatch says the
oppisite party are much chagrind at the result, while our party
exult at the prospect of peace and rapid Improvements, the printing
office is to be extablished imediately and many respectable Familys
will soon move in, particular our Officers of Government and our
Judges Lawyers etc—, another circumstance will eventuly be in
our favour the Surveyors appointed by our Government to run the
line of the Choctaw Treaty have by express from Washington been
ordered to stop any further proceedings on that line and have come
in— Hugh Bradley from Long Prarie also came in as express
stopping all Further surveys of Public Lands South of the Arkansas
untill the actual line between the U States and Texas have been
assertained and run—which is to be done soon; I think it will be the
means of giveing a sure and profitable Job to my Brother a large
number of Settlements will be made on the Arkansas this coming
season a number of waggons and family from Kentucky and
Tennesse have also passed the rock lately on their way to Texes and by
their report their will be an immence Emigration this comeing
season—, General Hogan has run through most of his property has
been compelled to part with his most valuable negros but I flatter
myself that Mr Ashley has secured our debt against him— we had a
letter from Cousin Mary, in good health— Mr Ashly had not
returned from the Courts at Hempstead and Miller countys but was
dayly expected,— a Number of familys from Mount Praarie are
preparing to Start and Join S. F. A as soon as possible but a
number of those who talked of going have declined as they can not
swallow the Spanish Oath— Mr Vaughn and Mr Scallings at the
Little Missouria are both dead with a number more in that
neighbourhood—
With regret I inform you of the unfortunate death of our Friend
Colo. English of Hempsted, he had the last season Erected a
complete Cotton Gin this fall he went to the post of Washington to
purchase ropes and Bagging for his Establishment, (he by accident met
there with Mrs English Sick and destitute of the common necessarys
of life—although he had been so deeply injured by her he hired a
House and Servant to attend her during her sickness and left funds
for her future subsistance on Condition she should never again see his
children for as a Mother she could have no further claim to them,)
a few days after he returned while engaged at the Gin the Sleve
of his shirt caught by the Saw Cylender and drew in his arm which
was torn to peicies, in trying to extricate it his other hand was
caught most of the hand was torn off and other ways much wounded
the consequence was a mortification and he died in great misery—
I have also heard that the Vessells and Familys which were to go
from New Orleans to Join S. F. A. had started and that their was
others in preparation—and also that Stephen was engaged in Survey-
and takeing Soundings of the Bay of St. Bernard for the purpose of
assert [ainjing the best Chanells etc.—
My health is some better yet I suffer much pain; from the presant
appearance of the weather I have but little prospect of getting to St
Louis one of my legs is very much swelled the Cords of the knee
appear to be much contracted and fear will never regain their
Elastic[i]ty— have not yet been out— but enough of my
Complaints
the family are all well Sister Mary joins in love to Emily and
little ones
this will be handed you by Mr Grafton—if you have any news
please write me
E A Elliott