Graves Project

Left side of paper:

Mauritius, 8th March 1860

My dear Charles,

Yours of 28th Novm/59 reached me by last mail on 15th [?] bearing postmarks, Bandera Tx 5th Decm, New York 21st Dec, British Mail “recv Southampton London Jan 2, the mail for Maurtius leaves on the 18th of every month So, I think the best way for both of us is to put our letters under cover to Gardeyne [apparently a business associate in London] as the center of the world is London.

Your letter is again a long Preface! I don’t understand your position yet, wandering from Illinois to Texas, in Search of what? to live alone without a hand to help you except by buying Niggers enormously dear $1400 for 1 man then to run away from you at New Orleans,

Right side of paper:

Robt Jack March 8th/60 ansd June 1st care of Mr. Gardyne 2nd & New City Champ London

Charles Jack Esq. Bandera, Texas

Left side:

then losing the most valuable [protective?] article you have with you, a Six Shooter; running all the risks of Yellow Fever, difficulties, dangers & murder from the Indians! All for what? to have nothing to eat, remote from Settlement, Your Pony gone & unable to walk far. Good God! Gold and [?] diamonds could not tempt a man beyond this & what is it all for? can’t you tell me more? In my letter of 12th July 1858. I explained to you as plain as possible, my position; “If I were to talk to you an hour, I couldn’t tell you more. Sir,” as a Cockney once said to me, when I asked him something.

But I tell you again, I am living as happy and comfortable at “Blackwood” as man can be, not knowing how to

Right side:

squander enough for every year, my fortune increases like a rolling stone {?} by accumulating interest which I cannot [?spend] never having been used to pride or Extravagance.

The climate here is most delightful all the year round & living most expensive because prosperity is on all sides. [?] upwards of 200,000 Indian Coolies, introduced to cultivate our Sugar fields – Which are not like those of Demarara & Louisana amidst canals & bayou; but planted amidst rocks & stone, the debris of earthquakes & decomposing lava vomited from Volcanos long before the creation of man – but I want to see the End of your letter before I Say more,

Yours affectionately, R Jack.

[p.2] likely to outlive me.

Right side:

“Mauritius xmas 1858. Dear Charles Yours of 25th October arrived here on the 9th Decm with the London Mail of 9th Nov. I don’t know whether you addressed it direct Yourself, & Left it to take its chance thro’ the Post Office, or if you enclosed it to Gardyne to forward; but it is evident we shall Soon be within easy corresponding distance with any part of the world, for there is a new contract entered into the the Peninsutas & Winter ?* Company to carry a Govt Mail to Australia via Surs *? & Maurituis, which will bring us within 25 days of London! and the Steamers across the Atlantic are constantly running, either from Liverpool or Southampton. When we are more intimate with each other’s occupations to ***? hows more today. I confess I cannot comprehend the sort of life you are leading

Left side:

likely to outlive me, who are in any way dependent on me. – indeed, my only care is that nothing shall fall to them as heirs-at-law as Sir As. Nicholson has shown such a mean avaricious spirit in trying to get hold of anything the poor dear Sojer left. Luckily it can be very little but there is a trifle about E1,000 - or fourteen hundred pounds he devised. Gardyne sent to me when he thought I was in want of it which I did not require. I shall never want but yet consider it as at my disposal to make use of as I think he would have done, in giving to those who best **? or those require it & you are welcome to it if it can be useful to you. Our share in the Shetland lands are still held on Mortgage for the late Wm. Hay as I never touched any part of what fell to me.

The mail does not leave this Isle *? until? the 27th Dec., but wishing you a merry xmas & a good New Years.

Your affect bro (affectionate brother), R. Jack”