Kaskaskia, Oct. 26th, 1824
Dear Father,
I shall enclose in this letter receipt for taxes &c &c paid
by me for Tunis VanKleeck, the whole amount you will see by the
certificate is $11.00, when you deliver the certificate receive the
above sum.
Resecting the value of the land the Auditor writes thus ---
"This quarter of land from its local situation I should think
valuable, as much so as most (or superior to very many) it lies near
the Mississippi in a good quarter of the Military tract. I should
not think it advisable to part from it until I had correct information."
This certificate should have been sent on before, but I have
just received it from xx.
I start tomorrow morning for St. Louis for the express purpose
of getting Edwin's trunk. I shall then adopt the safest and
most feasible plan to forward it to him. I have almost determined
to leave this country next spring, and as soon after as may be
locate in Ohio near Lake Erie say at Sandusky, Cleveland
or Erie, but think I shall be obliged to take my medicines &c, with me in
that case I shall return to N.York via. N.Orleans. I had better retain
the trunk I think till then, if I succeed in selling out my
medicines etc. I will send it, the trunk, by the first opportunity
and go directly to Lake Erie. Times are hard, I shall not be able to
collect much money, not more than 3 or 400 possibly, but
even with that sum I'll try my luck in another place. I keep my
wagon yet and a pair of well matched grey horses. The country is
remarkably healthy, my health is perfectly restored. Osborn has
been confined about two months with fever, I have not seen him since
he left this place the last of June, he was getting practice & was
highly esteemed.
Give my sincere love to the family and respects to all.
Yours Affectionately,
C. P. L.
Take the amount of postage from the money you receive the balance
among xx