Lexington October 6th 1829
My dear friend.
Just one year ago you wrote me a letter from Texas, by Mr Gregg,
and now by the same gentleman I send a reply. I shall be glad to
renew and to perpetuate our old friendship, which on my part, I
assure you is undiminished. I never recall the happy days of
boyhood, but you appear in the list of remembered friends, and many
scenes which we enjoyed together are among the " greenest spots " in
my recollections. Our female friends Eliza and Paulina, for whom
we both had pretty strong penchants, I see occasionally, but that
little " paradise " in which we were both sometimes admitted, is grown
up with weeds, and its fair inhabitants transplanted to other scenes,
and surrounded by other objects. The first you know married Thos
A Marshall. She lives in Bourbon county, has 6 or 7 children, breeds
like a rabbit, and looks almost as well as ever. Paulina was married
to Brooks who died and she remained some years a widow, and 18
months since married a second time, to Capt. Maurice Langhorne
who now keeps a large house of entertainment at Louisville. I
saw her last week, she does not look so well as formerly, in
consequence of a spell of fever. She is however pretty much the same,
especially the tone of voice, and her lively agreable manner. Mrs
January is still living, also her sister Sally (Mrs Todd). Jas. B
January is barely living being much reduced by excessive
intemperance. Mrs Todd has a large family. Will O Butler, who married
Levi Todds sister, has no children. Nannette Price who married
Tom Smith is also laughed at as childless, altho her husband is
pretty generally blamed for it. I have heard several jokes against
Smith coming from Mr Clay and the ladies of the family.
Mr Clay is now here with his family. He is in my opinion, the
evil genius of Kentucky. He set in motion all the springs of
discord, and keeps society in a continual excitement. He appeared as
counsel at the trial [of] Wickliffe's son for the murder of the editor
of the Gazette, and volunteered on the occasion, and has not appeared
in any other case before or since. He has been lately on trip to the
lower part of this state making speeches at dinner parties and
keeping all his engines in motion against Genl Jackson. As for the
President, he goes on as he has always heretofore done, attentive to
his duty, and making all under him do their duty. His health has
been somewhat injured by confinement but a visit to the seashore
restored his health, and he is now progressing rapidly in the reform
of the abuses which existed in the administration. It is melancholy
fact, that great abases had grown up, and many who wore the front
of honesty were guilty of great dishonesty and peculation. Party
spirit still runs high, and the growlings of the storm are still heard
although its main fury was exausted in the late election, Genl
Jackson, if he lives, will be re-elected as President.
I am sorry to pereieve that Mexico is again exposed to foreign
war as well as intestine divisions. We are all anxious to purchase
Texas from Mexico, and the subject is beginning to excite a great
deal of warm discussion in our public prints. If Mexico will
dispose of it on reasonable terms, I believe our government will no
doubt be glad to obtain it, and I am sure it will meet the almost
universal desire of our citizens. The consequences to the holders
of property in Texas would be very important, and it would
promote the happiness and prosperity of all the citizens of the province.
A great many citizens of Kentucky would move to your settlement
instantly, if it were under our government.
In relation to your last and most important particular, to wit the
widow, I can safely say that if you will come on here, and plead
your own cause I can point out to you both maids and widows, who
would make your heart go pit apat, and who would doubtless be
willing to emigrate to any part of the known world with clever
fellows. Only let me know that you will pay us a visit and I will
arrange matters and things so far as, that if you can be satisfied
with beauty, good temper, and affectionate dispositions, you shall
have a fair opportunity to lay siege forthwith. I should indeed be
truly glad to see you here once more, and to shew you my four children,
my eldest a boy going on thirteen years of age, and my
youngest a girl (I have two of each) about 13 months old. Two of them
are talking to me and playing round me and far as their prattle
can go, disturbing me.
Wishing you that success and prosperity, which your interprize
and industry so well deserve, I am as "in auld lang syne' Your
affectionate friend
Jn° M. McCalla
S. F. Austin Esqr Texas.