Resurrecting the First American West

Dear Sir,

It is a long time since we have heard from you, and you may rest assured that we are very anxious to be informed of situation of your family, some person {unclear} a report in this neighbourhood about Xmas, which gave us a good deal of uneasiness, we knew that this [unclear] had been very low for a very long time, and could ^help not placing more confidence in the report than it deserved, for we about a month afterward heard certainly that Mrs Hite was rather better than she had been - and I was told that there was good prospect of her recovery, but my friend, her disorder is sometimes flattering, and we cannot help feeling a good deal of anxiety lest as the spring comes on the disorder may prove more unfavourable, it commonly changes as the warm weather commences; we hope it will be for the better, but fear the worst. we shall feel great anxiety indeed until we hear from you, please gratify us by the first opportunity. The post comes regularly to Louisville,but I so seldom receive letters from my friends by it, that I can't help suspecting that the conveyance that way is not so certain as might be expected. as to my own family we are all pretty well at present, the white family have been healthy since we have been in this country (except Isaac who was laid up for about three months, his disorder proceeded from a bleeding at the nose, and his nose still bleeds very often, but I am in hopes he will get the better of the complaint - we have had the measles among the negroes and several of them have been laid up for a considerable time. I yesterday finished planting out my orchard, and tomorrow expect to begin in the garden. The earth has been too wet to do anything in that way untile a day or two past . I send this by W. Thomas Bullen who I expect will call by and deliver it, and if you have received any money for us, please send it to us by W. Bullen. I fear from the last letter I got from you, not much has been paid you. If any you may have received is on account of the grant, please retain your part, or the whole of whatever it may be if you in the least want of it, for I can do very well a while longer without. I should not wish money to be sent me to this country, but there is a small piece of land joining me, which I expect will be for sale shortly, and if it should