Correspondence, 1806 Matthew Lum’s letter Dated 23rd Nov 1806 put into the office and Postmasters marked 16 of the same month at Geneva & J. Arnold received out Morris P. Office 27th the same month- which mentions the compound that Smith made with Geneva 23. Nov. 1806 Dear Sir, I expect you have received a part of my letter by P. Condict in which I informed you that I had sent on 5 or 6 pages by old Mr. Rodgers, and which I expected you would have recieved long before Condict could arrive there- But the old man went about 25 miles to one of his Daughters, left the letters there and returned here or I might have sent them long ago- But if they were now here it would be too bulkey to send by mail. I wish at any rate it was here, it would assist me in writing this- I should have written sooner if I had not concluded a day or two after Condict left there that I should come to Jersey my self-, but am not like to as soon as I intended. It will be impossible to write in full in this letter as in the one sent by Rodgers- I began with David Arnold he has a not agst me the amt. I don’t know, there is an account in store Book and in my other Book Agst. him which he promised to call and settle, But I suppose he did not expect me to … of as soon as I was- there is undoubtedley a ballance due to him, But I beg his patience- Stephen Ludlow you say had orders from my wife to take care of the things left behind, I have conversed with her on the subject she said she wished him to take the soap Barrel and soap and take it to her Mother, he spoke about the corner cupboard she told him she supposed he could have it for what it was worth, this is all the instructions she gave him- I put no other person in to act for me but your self. and expected you would make the best of what was behind- Jacob Smith claimed a barrel. I did not know that he had any there, but if he says he had I cant doubt it- as to S. Ludlows claim to Barrels this is unexpected to me, he and I made jumping settlement without going over books and every thing to remain as it was. I had not the least distant idea that he expected a B.l[ (Ludlow) one of the I let John Squire have was marked with his name the widow morris had one in the seller- I don’t recollect the number I sold to Squire, But I will remember telling him that I reserved such and such Barrels for you he took the ones I pointed out to him put his name on them and got them in one corner of the shift house, there was some left how many I cant tell two of your barrels was put in the seller last fall with Cider the third you took for fish in the spring, how many you had at house I have forgotten- two you had at the old house to Draw water in whether they were good for any thing I dont know I wish you to make you self whole if there is anuff there, if you cant find barrels take anything else- the offer of G. Pierson is the best for the place that you have mentioned if I must make a sacrifice I had rather it should be on that quarter than some others, you wished me to write you whether you should sell the house and Distillery seperate and at what price- whether I answered it in Rodgers packet or Condits I forget- It however will signify nothing for me to price it you will undoutedly get as much as you can for it. I wish you to consult your own mind and that of your friends and my credittors which will be the most advantageous way to Dispose of it. I shall acquies in it. I think however that it will be better to let Mr. Pierson have it at his office than to let it be sold after the first of April next by Mr. Whitehead, Do the best you can for I cant die in peace till my Debts are paid- I am told that Drake Ludlow has offered $100 for the shop if there is no ….. lot by persons that would wish to keep it on I should … it best to take the above offer-John Smith has been here and has gone away better satisfied than he was the first of last July we have compounded- But this I wish you to keep a profound secret as it may occasion hard thoughts with my other creditors, he has promised me that he will not mention it in Jersey, I wish you to see if he keeps his word or not and let one know if he does not- I must quit or the mail will be closed before I get there write me by mail or any way. I am Sincerely your Col. Jacob Arnold Matt.w Lum-
