Resurrecting the First American West

Doc^r Eddy & thank him for his friendly thoughtfullness of you I understood that it would be necessary that the person to take his place should be [their? ? of ?], I cannot advise you because I know not what will be his proposition, but you will in Course inform me your determination, should you accept it inform me immediately what will be your wants, all I can I will do for you, I have been myself at Hallifax it is situated on the Roanoke river near the Virginia Line Latt. 36.13. the Town & County [arpmorse?] contains ^in 1800 13.563 inhabitants 7020 of whom are slaves, The Town is 36 miles north of Yabarough 75 miles S by W. of Petersburgh Virginia as well as I can remember it was about the size of Pacotuxet when I saw it 27 years since, the Country is perfectly level in Course, subject to fever and ague. & such other fevers as attend that Country, I presume not verry different from Louisville should you think of accepting his place, you wil recollect that, going in the summer instead of fall, that you will have no oppt^y of getting [annexed?] to the Climate & you should be verry Carefull, & particularly of the night air I pray you think well & use your own Judgement Caution Joseph John & Mary & not to expose themselves, after night to the [dues? (dews?)] of Kentucky I am sattisfied, from information of very intelligent men from the southern states that much of their sickness arrises from exposure to night air & heavy [due^s?] let me now what you inform Doc Eddy, & act without any refferance to my opinion, for I really know not how to advise you on this proposition, The plan you propose on Indiana is what induced me to advise your going with us, a plantation with practice in Kentucky or any

[Left margin:] 14 August 1816

you will observe I have made the whole thickness of the wall to lap on the old house, M^r Hazard is on a Voyage to Liverpool, its my Intenion to send out a Waggon by first of may I am look^g out for a Clever fellow to go with it, I notice what you say of [Russcleartle?] I never fancied that place for you, and I retain now the same opinion I ever have the largest & most popular are best for phicisians, although they may be longer getting under way, yet when so they are better of[f], among the host of professional men who travel with the larger potion [are? all?] men, [?] not Educated next have^g tried & failed in some other place, & those who have talents & information will rise above them, and if you were not so extreamly diffident of your own quallifications you I am sure would succeed with patience any where in my [?] I advise you to settle in Lexington, but its not my wish to contradict your inclination, as to the place, but I pray you think not of Indiana, in first place you cant hope to practice there & you are illy calculated to use the ax & slaves are not permitted there, & besides it will be the worst Indian frontier in the United States subject for 50 years to [?] to Indian depredation, this is one reason why I disapprove Indiana & the other is it must be work^d by white men & those of the hardiest race the Indian frontier to the Southward is much prefferable the Indians are Comptely surrounded by three powerfull states which will keep them always in awe, I meet Doc^r Eddy yesterday and he inform^d me he should write you immediately on the subject of takeing the place of an old phicissian at Hallifax N^o Carolina to whose practise you would be introduced but on what conditions he did not say, I am at a los to know what to advise you on this head, I must leave it entirely to your own Judgement only when you have determined do not fail to write Doc^r