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Memphis, Tenn July 25th 1866
Honl B. G. Humphries Gov. of Miss—
I am requested by Mrs. Picket President of the Tennessee Benevolent association to write you the following letter.
She has made a Contract for the Manufacture of artificial limbs for Confederate Soldiers & she has had a great many applications for relief from Mississippians & has already furnished five Mississippians with legs at a cost of something more than five hundred dollars.
She is not only the President of a Benevolent Society but is also an exceedingly benevolent Lady & does not like to refuse aid to any who apply.
But as Miss. has by its Legislature procured for the maimed Confederates & as there is no hope of any assistance from the Tennessee Legislature she thinks it rather too much that the private Charity of Tennessee should be applied without any hope of return to the maimed of other states.
She has been informed however that the State
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July 30, 1866
Memphis, Tenn July 25, 1866
Letter of—
Written at request of Mrs. Picket Pres. of Tenn. Benevolent Association in relation to furnishing disabled Mississippians with artificial limbs &c
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aid could be rendered immediately in Miss & as she is now prepared to furnish limbs she is ready to do so ever for Mississippians provided she can get any assurance from you on any on authorized that the funds will be returned by the State of Mississippi.
Under her Contract she can furnish limbs as follows. The strap leg at 100pc. Another kind man [finds?] finished but not so [strong?] 133c$ for Cf use.
Before she heard of the law passed by Miss She was extending her relief to Mississippians but under the circumstances I think she is right in declining to furnish any more to Mississippians unless the money can be returned.
If you can make an arrangement with her or give any assurance of repayment she ever very willingly extend the benefits of her Contract for limbs to Mississippians.
Please answer at your earliest convenience.
I am Sir Y Obt Svt
Jas R. Chalmers