6

If we do not suffer a great loss by paper
shall have made something this season
and should we loose but little shall
have done a much better business than
any season formerly. Should we be so
fortunate as raise funds to purchase
you must all heavily curtail your
purchasing say one third for I do assure
you we have had much stock this season
they should not have been purchased
and I am confident our number to
sell every year is is too large for If we
had 2/3 the number we could sell
to the satisfaction of all concerned and
what is better than all could hold on
and sell for cost which is the business
I intend to do next season if we can
possibly do any, you have not the least
idea the amt of paper received this season
and the small amt want of cash paid
for negroes those [?] sales in this
State last fall used up all the funds
the Banks could loane [?] at 6. 9 & 12 pcts
I have no doubt you have spent many
unpleasant hours about your credit But
I do assure you we have [s?] and it has been
all we could do to save our credit
I did sell off some paper @ 15 pct to pay
a Bill. I saw how things would be
& pushed the figure by selling for paper

Yours as Usual
James R. Franklin

Old Genl Wm Bothill died in the night 14th Inst in this
place at Ruskin Hotel after about 10 days sickness

I accompanied his cortege
to the burial & am sorry
to say they were very few
[?ts]. Adieu