[outside of letter addressed to] Dr D. Romeyn Beck
				  	Albany
					St. of New York

[from] Abraham BECK
	Decr 3. 1818

[postmarked Cincinnati. (O.) Dec 7

[inside of letter]

Dear Brother.				Cincinnati (Ohio)			Dec 3. 1818

	Yours of the 13th. Novr. I received a few days since, I was glad to hear that you were all well.  I can assure you that a line from home is precious to me & I like to hear any thing from there.  I have wrote fully on the subject of my settlements to Mother & the boys at Schy. & I have seen nothing since I wrote to alter my determination of going to St. Louis  I am convinced that it affords the best field for exertion & talents.  When I have established myself there I intend to devote particular attention to the military & public lands & the laws connected with them.  Also to Surveying.  When I arrive there I shall write more particularly.  I have been introduced to most of the medical faculty in this place  Among others to Dr Drake who is the factotum here.  He enquired concerning you.  He was one of the Medical professors at Lexington, which college was broke up by some duelling between the professors.  The particulars of which you have probably heard.  A course of lectures is delivering this winter here.  It is not connected with

any college.  It consists of Lectures by Drs Drake & Rogers & Lectures on Chymistry by Revd. Mr Stack formerly of Princeton.  The former lectures are attended by 11 or 12 students & Mr Stack’s lectures by almost 50 or 60.  Dr Barnes who formerly practiced in Albany practices here with some success as he says.  Platt Evans Tailor is here & is said to have made 3000 or 4000 Dollars.  I was introduced to Mr Worth at a time when I had not your letter in my pocket.  He treated me very politely.  But I had heard so much of the singular & cool manner in which he treated strangers who had letters to him, that I determined not to deliver yours.  I have since met him in at several places & he has always treated me very politely.  There is an Alby. man here by name Daniel Hale, said to be a son of Major Hale.  I never heard of him before, but presume he is well known to you.
	As to the inquiry you make whether Miller ought to pay any part of the note to Van Schaich.  I would refer to Nichls.  He has a Memorandum of my account with Miller.  If the balance is, in my favor, as I beleive, it ought un

doubtedly to be paid on that note.  I have not yet received my trunk from Pittsburgh but expect them daily as the water has risen 2 or 3 feet & a few boats are coming down.  I received a letter from mother a few days ago, & another last evening  I rejoice to hear You are all well ____ be happy if I could only see you all for an hour or two.  I hope I will soon have another letter from some of you, as I shall sail down the Ohio as soon as I get money & receive my trunks.  Tell Harriet I shall write her all I know & heard about Helen Man &c &c &c soon.  Give my Love to Mother, Harriet & the child & Believe me

Your Affect. Brother
Abrme Beck

Dr. DR Beck
	
	P.S. Do write as often as you conveniently can.  Direct to this place till you hear 
	Of my being at St. Louis or get further directions from me.

[outside of letter addressed to] Mrs Harriet Beck
				  care of Dr D. Romeyn Beck
				  Albany
				  St. of New York

[inside of letter]

Dear Sister.				St Louis (Missouri)		March 7. 1819

	Although I have not strictly complied with my promise to write you soon after I left Albany.  Yet having written so often to Albany & Schy. I hope you will excuse me, as you have no doubt seen & read all my letters.  But having now located down here I shall literally comply with my promise & shall continue to do so provided I find you an answering correspondent.  I dont like to write & not receive any answer.  I am here settled better than I could possibly expect. for particulars as to prospects & business I refer you to a letter to Nicholas I have this day finished & have directed him to send to Albany.  I have very little society & hardly any female, not that is there are none in the place but because I am unwilling to get busy with the gay world & by that means perhaps neglect my business.  I came here as an adventurer for fortune, & a fortune I am determined if possible to make.  So that fashionable society shall not trouble me much, but I hear about it & see it something some times.  There have been about 3 balls in the short time I have been here neither of which I attended but they were well attended.  St Louis is very dissipated.  I have seen no handsome women, although there are some that appear pretty well.  They are mostly French & very coarse.  Some considerable number are Creoles & Indians, & consequently rather upper-coloured.  They are all catholics & attend mass & church every day.  I was at a Common ball one evening where I paid 25 Cents for admission & saw the common class in perfection.  They enjoyed themselves supremely as French always do in dancing.  I danced once with a partner who could only say Yes in English & parles vous Francais & ___ dozen other sentences was all I could talk in French so as to be understood.  You can judge how much I enjoyed myself  My whole object was to see the manners & habits of the town

& I was completely gratified.  The balls given here are what are called King balls – the french girls come up to the gentleman whom they intend to crown & fix a bouquet on him & kiss him  The King is then oblidged to choose a queen, he gives her the bouquet back again & kisses her in return.  10 or 12 Kings & Queens are made every night & every th King is oblidged & allowed to kiss all the Queens.  The Kings are oblidged in consequence of their regal honors to give the next ball at their expense & to give their respective Queens a dress or some other proper present which is received as a matter of course.  This is the custom not only among the lower order but among all classes of   French.  At Cahokia which is 5 miles from St Louis it is said the series of Kings & Queens have been kept up from time immemorial meaning the first settlement of the town.  There are but few of the American ladies who visit these balls but all the gentlemen.  Americans balls or subscription balls are also very frequent & are attended by some of the French ladies.  Extravagance is the order of the day & a total disregard for money & partyies are given in abundance  They are a great many U. States officers loitering about this place & the w who belong to the western troops.  This is also cause of some dashing.  A few days ago I went to St Charles, which is 18 ms. from St Louis & is on the Missouri River.  The Missouri & Mississipi are only 6 miles apart at St Charles.  The Missouri is a grand majestic stream which flows along heedless of all light obstructions which impede its progress.  Sometimes acres of ground which the water has washed away will tumble into the stream & float down on the bosom of this royal stream.  I walked about halfway from the Missouri to the Mississipi to what

is called the Maumels or Breasts from these resemblance to the human body. they are two in number  Never did my eyes behold so superb a scene  I was situated on a very high hill, in the rear was highlands of which these Maumels were the termination  in front were extensive prairies of several thousand acres, which had every appearance of richly cultivated flatts, although the plough had entered scarcely an acre of its surface.  the Deer skipping in every direction.  About 5 miles distant but visible was the Mississipi rolling along – about 3 miles distant was the Missouri just perceptible.  The village of Portage des Sioux noted in Indian Story # where the Mississipi & Missouri are only 1 ½ miles apart although it is some miles from the mouth of the Missouri where it empties into the Mississipi.  The village is seen through the trees & the only old French houses.  The mouth of the Illinois & the bluff where it empties into the Mississipi is also discovered at a distance - & the Dardan, a fine stream whose banks covered with beautiful trees also flows in sight.  And I am told that in summer there is an immense number of beautiful flowers of every description & kind, with which the eyes will never be fatigued in beholding.  Indeed the whole country is filled with superb scenery & elegant prospects.  On the American bottom the eye extends miles on a level surface richly cultivated.  In one view 27 mounds are visible.  No one who can content onehimself for the want of the elegancies of polished society, & who has friends here would ever leave this country.  I did not see Gen Mc Arthur or Miss Ellen in Ohio but I heard of them both.  Gen was well but does not stand very high  He is very rich.  Miss Ellen is a natural daughter of his & is married to a drunken sot.  So far from being handsome She is a very ugly Scotch girl.  He had another daughter who was handsome who is also married.  I hope Kate is well 7 growing finely.  I should like to see her  I hope she has quit crying.  Kiss her for me.  Give my love to the Doctor Mother & Miss Henrietta to all friends who care for me.  Present

[top of outside page]
my respects to your sisters &c.  I hope Charlotte is better & recovering.  I expect a good long letter in answer
						I Remain Yours Affectionately  Abrm Beck

[bottom of outside page]

# Portage des Sioux is so called from a party of Sioux Indians having some in boats down the Mississipi to this place, where instead of rowing their boats of Mi to the mouth of Missouri & then up the Missouri, they went on shore, took their boats on their backs & marched by land to the Missouri where they reshipped & proceeded up the Missouri on an expedition against some Missouri Indians

[outside of letter addressed to] Dr Theod. R. Beck
				 Albany
				 St. of New York

[from] A BECK
	March 26. 1819

[inside of letter]

Dear Brother,			St Louis (Missouri) 		March 26th 1819

	I have wrote several letters to Albany & Schenectady since I have heard from there.  At which I am much surprised as I write to so many whilst some of you could write at least once a week.  I wrote a long letter to Nicholas, giving a particular account of my situation at this place & my prospects which I requested him to send to Albany & I presume you have seen it ___ this.  Since I wrote him, nothing particular has occurred me to me worthy of notice.  A very warm great excitement is raised in this territory at the proposed conditions attempted to be imposed by Congress on this State.  The abstract question of permitting slavery, should have been at least doubtful as to its decision, but the indignation excited by the attempt to compel the people to prohibit it will I fear, result in a positive permission  It is considered arbitrary, oppressive & unconstitutional.  I send you by this mail a Newspaper containing a few remarks on the subject, & 3 or 4 communications are on hand for printing.  You will see by the signature who is the Author.  The Climate in this place has been delightful, this winter & Spring.  With the exception of perhaps 12 days, it has resembled Your May weather till about March 3rd or 4th.  It was almost summer weather, Gardens were beginning & in some places were made.  Flowers were in bloom.  I was in Kaskaskia in Jany about 20th & the Gov (Bond) told me his

family was about making gardens.  There was no snow.  The fields were green, & every thing had the appearance of Summer or at least Spring.  Since March In this month although it has not been cold, still it has been rainy & unpleasant, & We had snow 2 or 3 times, about 1 inch at each time.  What renders it particularly unpleasant is that the streets become excessively muddy, almost impassable so soon with mud, but one pleasant day, with sun shining dries them up & walking becomes good.  It has been remarkably healthy this season & indeed I see no reasons why St Louis should ever be unhealthy.  It is situated on a high bluff of the Mississipi, on which I am told the air is remarkably cold & pleasant the whole summer.  But on the bottom, the French & old settlers have built their houses & stores, these are low & confined, & the natural disinclination of the French to clear their streets may render it sickly in that part of the town.  Besides on the Illinois side is a large tract of low, marshy, wet but very rich, & ver land called the American Bottom.  The effluvia exhaled from this is considered unhealthy, but this gradually improving & cultevating.  The principal sickness I am told is among the boatmen on the river & among such strangers as have to submit to many inconveniences in coming & then stay in the lower part of the town when they arrive.  I board in the Upper

part of the town & shall stay there this season.  The town is improving rapidly & if emigration continues in the same rates in five Years this must be a very _____ town.  It is calculated to contain now 4000 or 5000 inhabt.  The accommodations for living are very extravagant & still are ___.  Every body is engaged in speculation & very little attention is paid to farming or to any industrious branch.  All industrious Mechanics & farmers particularly make fortunes in a little while.  I hope Congress have passed the law to admit this territory its growth will then be very rapid.  I hope you are well & improving in prospects.  I trust that things will go better than they have for some time past.  All I can do shall be done as soon as possible.  I wish you would get ______ to exchange his paper with Missouri Gazette.  _____ send to him all events in a mail or two.  I want to hear Alby. & Schy news very much.  A Letter or two, giving a little news would not be unacceptable  Within a fortnight I have wrote to Nichs. Mother. Harriet & John but have received none.  I wrote Nichs particularly about sending my things  I wish you would urge them on & if they cannot be sent by ___yth, send them to N.Y. Philadelphia & so to Pittsburgh to the house I mentioned  They have agents in Philadelphia.  At the same time send me, by all means, Lewis & Clarke’s Travels.  _____ Travels & the best map of the United States you can get.  These articles are almost indispensable to a Lawyer here.  Particularly ask Mother to send me all the articles of

clothing & bedding which she can  Give my Love to Mother, Harriet & little Kate.  Also to the boys if you see them & all friends.  I Remain Your affect. Brother
									Abrm Beck

P.S. I wish you would send by mail all 
pamphlets about State affairs &c, that
you can conveniently

[outside of letter addressed to] Revd Dr John B. Romeyn
				 Dey Street
				 New York

[from] A Beck
	March 29. 1819
   Describing
     (St Louis) &c

[inside of letter]

Dear Uncle.					St Louis (Missouri)  	March 29. 1819
	
	I have anxiously looked for a letter from New York for some time, but every mail has disappointed me, although I have wrote several times to John & Yourself.  My situation at this place is as good as I could possibly expect.  I wrote to John the state of my business.  I have been employed in ____ in which the fees when completed will amount to $1000 at least.  I do not wish to appear to be too sanguine, but I believe I shall do extremely well at this place.  I depend not on friendship, but on personal exertion & attention.  I have am not yet completely fixed in my office, & therefore am in some degree still unsettled.  But I hope I will be settled in a few days.  This town is rapidly increasing in population & improvement, & indeed the whole territory, although the failure of the application to get admitted into the Union will retard our growth for the ensuing season.  This measure is considered peculiarly oppressive & unconstitutional.  There are a great many in the territory opposed to Slavery, & it is supposed by many, that the constitution when adopted by the people, might have contained some provision for its gradual abolition, or perhaps it might have been silent & by that means have left it to subsequent laws, which might be altered from time to time.  By which means there

would be undoubtedly a gradual abolition of slavery.  But the proceedings of Congress will have an unfortunate affect.  Slavery will now undoubtedly be expressly recognised in consequence of the indignation exerted.  The People in this town are mostly catholics & are very attentive to the ceremonies of the church.  There a number of P The Principal of the clergy is Bish. Dubourg, these are likewise a number of inferior clergy of different orders.  The inferior clergy preach every Sabbath in French both morning & afternoon, but after the French exercises are closed, the Bishop preaches in English.  He is very eloquent & impressive & speaks English very well.  It is said that Louis 18th. has made large presents to this Church.  The Church is well attended by French & the English services generally draw a crowded audience.  The Catholics are erecting a splendid edifice as a Chapel, their present building is an old French building almost gone to decay.  The Bishop has purchased a farm at Florisant about 8 or 10 miles from St Louis where he intends establishing a convent of Ursuline Nuns, which is now at St Charles on the Missouri.  The Catholics are the most numerous denomination of Christians in this town, but unfortunately a very large proportion, I think a majority of the inhabitants are infidels, open & avowed - & I am told very often publicly scoff at all religion.  Besides the Catholics there is a small Society of Presbyterians, for whom Mr Giddings officiates - & also a small number

of Baptists, of whom Mr Peck & Mr Welch are clergymen.  The Baptists are building quite a neat brick church, the funds for which was mostly raised by subscription.  The two latter denominations are both very small.  The Sabbath is almost totally disregarded in this town.  It is very common ____  to hear the violin playing on Sunday evening & it is not unusual to have balls among the lower class of French, not however in Lent.  Many mechanics continue their ordinary occupations on that day the same as on others.  However no outdoor business is done.  Shops are generally shut.  There is a little outward respect.  I am told however, this is improving, for the better.  The State of public morals is generally very depraved.  Public opinion imposes very little restraint on the commission of any crime.  But with the emigration of Americans, morals have improved & will improve  I have withdrawn myself from Society, or rather have not entered it & means to observe the same rule.  There is some danger in it exclusive of that I have mentioned & besides drawing me from business, which is that it is a dueling community.  There have been no duels fought, but 3 or 4 challenges have passed, & some posting.  With all this, however, St. Louis is destined to be a great place & no doubt the principal city of a great State, or future Empire.  I am become perfectly well & from my letter to John you will have learn something of my prospects.  I hope you accepted my draft

It was absolute necessity that compelled me to draw & as soon as possible I will remit you the amount.  In about 4 weeks I expect to send you $100.  Give my Love to Aunt & John & Believe me Your Affect. Nephew		Abrm Beck

[outside of letter addressed to] D Romeyn Beck M.D.
				 Albany
				 St. of New York

[from] A. BECK
           May 10. 1819

[inside of letter]

Dear Brother			St Louis		May 10. 1819
		
Yours of March 20th was received a few days since, & I was happy to find
 that I was still remembered by you.  I can assure you a letter from any of you is highly gratifying to me, & for some time past I have received but very few.  This has no doubt been owing in a considerable degree to the derangement of the mails & to the badness of the roads, both of which I hope will be better in future & that letters will come more regular in future.  As to my law business not much has occurred since I wrote last to Alby., but I have formed a connexion in a land agency with a T. Crane in a land agency whose advertisements you have doubtless seen.  It is not a very large business at present but will grow & may be worth $400 or 500 even the first year.  I was sorry that you could  not accept my draft, but I must do as well as I can but about money matters I have write in my former letters as much as I can now say in my former letters.  I am not sorry to hear that Clinton is declining.  His appointment of Woodworth & the desertion of Rufus King must satisfy the federalists that he wants then no farther than as his tools.  The Population of St Louis in 1815 was 2000, & of the county 73 7395; a very large majority males, which is the case in all the western towns.  It consists of Canadian French, who originally settled after they were expelled from the Illinois.  There are also Some European & St Domingo French.  A few years ago the French formed a very large majority of the inhabitants but the immense emigrations to the West of which this place has had a very large share have lessened their preponderance very much, indeed it is somewhat doubtful whether they do in fact now form a majority.  The other inhabitants consist of emigrants from every State in the Union & many Europeans.  It will not be long before the population of this town will equal in number that of Albany at least.

The increase is principally in commercial men, & a very large proportion of them from the Eastern & middle States.  William Clark, the colleague of Lewis, is Governor of the territory  St Louis is about 58 ms. as the road ____ from Potosi, where the principal digging of Lead mines are situated; in a direct route it is about 45 miles, at this place the lead mines which are not worked are situated, but lead is the most abundant mineral that has been found in the country.  There is A chain or belt or tract of lead mineral, forming almost a crescent _______ commencing at the Arkansaw above the Frog bayou to the head waters of White & Black Rivers, the Osage, & Merrimac, thence across to the Salt, Jefferson, Le Moine, the Ouisco____, & the __ & to the Mississipi & thence to Lake Michigan.  It averages about 100 miles in breadth & 600 in length & runs irregularly  The mineral is to be found on the banks of all the rivers in the above tract.  The different most productive mines are those between the St Francis & the Merrimack & those on the Mississipi at the Ouisconing near Prairie du Chien.  The former are scattered over the district of St Genevieve, the principal is the Mine a Burton & is at Potosi above mentioned.  The first digging was made by a Frenchman called Renault.  It is said that lead ore is to be found within 5 miles of St Louis.  The richest ore is said to be that found between the Mississipi & L. Michigan.  Borax, zinc & other minerals are found near Potosi.  The mines near Ouisconing are what are called the Spanish mines or Dubuques mines.  They were granted by the Spanish govt. to Julien Dubuque about 1786, who sold part to Col. Choteau, the part retained by Dubuque was afterwards sold by his administrator.  The title to these mines is not considered unquestionable  In 1811 an attempt was made to improve them & near 100 hands were taken up to work them but not much was done & there are at present worked by the Fox Indians – in 1810, they are said to have made 600.000 weight of lead.  These mines are considered very valuable

& whenever the title shall be placed out of dispute, will be advantageously improved.  They are about 450 to 500 miles from St Louis on the Mississipi.  The nearest Indian tribe to St Louis is the Pawnees & Delaware but the territory is filled with Indians.  This is a small remnant of Pawnees & Delawares & are settled about 45 mls. from St Louis on the Merrimac.  The next are the Sacs.  Their village is on Rock River near the Mississipi about 300 familes from here  Every few days we have Indians in this place.  will write you as full of an account of them & of any thing else you may wish as soon as I obtain it.  I have no doubt Lewis will do very well with you but I am equally certain that this is the place for him & that he would not only acquire a character but also a fortune.  I wish you would tell Nicholas that in a mail or two I will send him our Land circular, meanwhile let him collect as many patents as possible  Our charge will be much less than I wrote him.  Do not let him send any patents till I write him  You will excuse my scrawl when I inform you that I write from 9 AM to 12 P.M & that I have now laying before me 28 letters unanswered.  I shall write mother a letter by this mail.  I hope you will write me often.  Do get Webster to send his paper & also Buel his, to the Missouri Gazette.  I am anxious to see them, & I have the Missouri Gazette sent regularly to them.  I am employed in that paper.  The people have such a cacoethes scribendi [incredible itch] on the subject of the Slavery question, that it fills the paper.  As soon as that is over, the paper will improve.  Give my best love to Harriet & Mother & the boys & kiss little Kate for me.  Do urge my books & things & send _ne by all means every thing you can in the way of maps, or books concerning this country.  Also any others you can spare.  They shall be repaid in time.

Yours affectionately
Abrm Beck

[outside of letter addressed to] Dr D Romeyn Beck
				 Albany
				St. of New York

[from] A. BECK
	May 25, 1819

___ A.T. Crane P.M.

[Attached is a printed pamphlet from the St. Louis Land Agency, & Commission Office]

[inside of letter]

Dear Brother

	Enclosed you have my circular in my new land office.  I have been so busy this week in that office, that I have merely time to scratch a line  I shall write a longer letter next mail.  All well at St. Louis.  Givens expected in about 8 days.  Read the enclosed pamphlet & retain it.  I shall give you directions how I wish it dispesed of by the next mail  Give my Love to Mother Harriet & the boys & don’t forget Little Kate

Your affect. Brother
Abrm Beck

St Louis  May 25. 1819

P.S. I send the pamphlet enclosed in a newspaper, acknowledge the receipt when you write again

[outside of letter addressed to] Sc____
				  June 14
				  Dr. Romeyn Beck
				  	Principal of the 
					Albany Academy

[from] Revd Dr Nott
	June 14. 1819

[inside of letter]

Monday June 14th 1819
Dear Sir
	Your favour has been received.  It has been usual to have the Senior class amused by a few lectures in Chemistry during the short time they are together before commencement.  As we have no professer to do it this year I supposed that you could probably attend to it without interfering with your school and that the compensation you might as well have as another.  As to the Lectures let them be on the more entertaining and interesting parts and accompanied with as many experiments as may be – we have a convenient Laboratory & its accompanements for that purpose.  We wish you to commence Saturday after next and continue till commencement – spending every Saturday here and perhaps you may sometimes make it convenient to spend a part of Friday afternoons.  We will allow Twenty Dollars per day for every day so spent with the class.

The class have been thro the course of chemistry with Professor B_ and this exercise is intended to help fill up that portion of time usefully and agreeably, which they spend here while preparing for commencement.  Should you be in Schenechtady before the Saturday after next it might be well for you to examine the state of the Laboratory.  Indeed you may as well if convenient come up next Saturday and make preparations for the Saturday following and we will allow you the Same as tho you had Lectured on that day

Very respectfully
Yours __ _
E. Nott

[outside of letter addressed to] Nicholas H. Beck Esquire
				 Attorney at Law
				 Schenectady
				 New York

[from] Abm Beck
           August 24. 1819

[inside of letter]

Dear Brother		St Louis (Missouri)		August 24. 1819

	Yours of the 2nd June arrived about a fortnight or 3 weeks since & several reasons have concurred to prevent an earlier answer.  I expected another from you soon, as you mention you will write in a few days, & I anxiously looked for it, as it would probably contain an answer to many questions I have asked that remain unanswered.  Another reason for my not answering or writing sooner & oftener for the last month has been that I am crowded with business.  I might add our Court has been sitting since the 1st of August but that would be no excuse, as I have no causes for trial yet.  But I ought hardly to render an excuse to you as you write so seldom yourself & are considerably indebted to me in the score of letter writing.  I will give you some idea of how much I have to do.  ______ I am a lawyer practising in 3 counties & in the Superior Court  In one county I have now 10 causes at _____ which will be ready for trial next court.  In another 2. & in the 3rd. One  Besides which I have in Circuit Court one Cha____ suit of considerable importance, & in the Superior Court another involving property worth $50000.  I have besides 8 or 10 suits not yet commenced.  I have altogether about $20000 in demand for collection in my hands.  Item.  I am a Land agent & Have recorded 400 Deeds for which we charge $1 each & have _ixed 1200 lots for taxation for which we charge

50 cents.  We have for sale about 50000 to 100000 acres of land on which we receive 10 & 5 per cent commissions.  In this business we have already about 500 correspondents, & in it I have written since May 13. 976 letters.  In addition all our account books & every thing else have to be fixed.  Item.  I am almost sole Editor of the Missouri Gazette, to which to be sure, I have as yet done little else than collecting, but most do _____ more – for this I get my board & the good wishes of many individuals.  And I presume the ill will of some others.  This editorship however is s___.  Item.  We intend to publish a Land newspaper, the 1st. no will appear in September, of which I shall be sole proprietor & editor.  And I am now preparing materials.  Item.  I have to give keep most of the accounts of a considerable ___ store, the owner having been sick the whole summer.  Item.  I am an individual & have many correspondents who write for information whom I have never seen, & some whom I never cared for.  Lastly I am in search of fortune & all the bits of land I can pick up, without paying money.  I shall certainly not suffer to pass.  From this schedule you will readily perceive I am busily engaged & mean to be so, for some time.  Indeed, my Dear brother, the advantages of this country to a man of industry, attention & enterprise surpass all your most exalted calculations.  The pressure

of money affairs affects this community as well as the East but we will be over the difficulty in a short time
	I was much gratified to hear the result of the election in some respects.  In others not so well pleased.  Lewis & your appointment I was glad of.  But I sincerely hope Lewis will come here.  I know you cannot at present, although I am perfectly satisfied that both of you would improve your prospects.  The business at Schenectady is & always will be bad & must grow worse
	Your attention to my affairs is perfectly satisfactory.  At this distance & having no Memorandum I can give you no information that would be useful.  All I can say, is urge settlements with as much speed as possible & bring every thing to a close.  The letter of license I think may as well be waived for the present  It would however be well to drop an accidental hint that I write that I would settle every thing as soon as possible
	As to the Judgment so ____ I am perfectly confident I never commenced the suit for $17.50, but I am hardly able to say any thing about it, but I suspect that upon examination of the lease you will find the rent for 1817 for 54 acres to be $26.25.  At least this is my recollection.  At all events I know that the rent was more that $17.50.  You will recollect this was on Warner & Smith’s lease, examine it carefully & I suspect you will find the rent to be over $25 for ___

	Henry Ba___ __ by verbal agreement may presume he is entitled to the old House  There was some talk about it.  Let him take it.  The Fence is an absolute lie.  On the contrary _ichs. Brad_ & others stole part of the fence & I intended prosecuting them, if they had not been too poor.
	Bishop’s discharge was sent to Washington by referring to the papers & letters of Col Joseph Watson  You will find a memorandum that the warrant was fixed & the number $26 was due to Watson.  Do not let the warrant or papers go out of your possession until they pay you - $15 is the usual charge.  Watson charge $10 for his trouble
	I shall write ____ by next mail
	Your idea concerning recording deeds & paying taxes is incorrect.  Nearly 22000 patents were issued & not 10000 deeds are on record.  On this subject you must act on your discretion.  We have an agent now at Boston concord, NH. Philadelphia & Washington & will have one soon at Baltimore & A___ __ban.  We have also an agent coming from Boston to St Louis in Novr. & Decr who will call in N.Y. for deeds.  I shall send to John an advertisement to insert in the papers which you may copy.  You will observe the terms by the enclosed handbill & the one formerly sent you.  If you think proper you may have the advertisement Just in the Albany Argus, Gazette & one of the Utica Papers also one

of the Troy papers.  Act as you please on the subject  You may annex that business be left with you & charge an extra Dollar or two on each deed or lot as you may judge proper.  If you should do so, you need not remit any money but retain it till I direct you.  Perhaps I shall leave it altogether.  At all events shall not draw for it till I forward the receipts
	Van Schaich’s Judgment I have paid, although inconvenient.
	Your dissolution with Whiting I do not regret.  What is the reason Bill Walton does not write?  I shall be happy to receive the accounts of what has been done in my business.  At all events whether Ostrom & Beach of Utica have been paid.
	Do answer the interrogatories I put in my letters  What has been done with the books unsold when I left Schenectady.  I should have been much pleased if they had been sent.  Give my Love to Lewis, Caty, Walton family, Murdoch family, &c &c &c &c &c 
I write Lewis & mother by this mail.  Pettibone & family are well.  The newspapers give you G____ progress.  I send them regularly to Riggs for you  I got a letter from Bill, 200 miles up the Missouri

He was well & in better spirits than when he left here.  Do write at least once a fortnight

Your Affect Brother
Abrm Beck

Excuse this scrawl, which is written but nearly 12 at night

N.H. Beck Esquire

P.S. I have concluded to annex as advertisement which you will please to have pub in the Albany Gazette  Argus, & a Troy paper.  I have directed some money to be paid Romeyn.  If no other is received the expense may be taken out of that.  Put it in the papers without delay.  Let them be inserted to Nov 1. & whatever is received sent at that time to John

[the advertisement]

Western Land Agency & Commission Office
The subscribers have established a permanent office and have provided themselves with the laws both in Illinois and Missouri, and all the requisite information on the subject of taxes & conveyances, and will pay the strictest attention to the payment of taxes, and to the recording of deeds & all other business entrusted to their care  They have also procured maps of the country, and are continually sending agents to the County lands and can furnish a particular amount of any lot for a moderate compensation
Taxes regularly paid on lands duly entered amount to $1.60 per quarter section except for the year 1818 when  ____ amount to $1.20 per quarter section

Agency Charges
____ Dollar for procuring each Deed recorded.  Fifty Cents per annum on each lot for entering for taxation and paying Taxes.  Five to Six Dollars will pay the expenses of recording & taxes on each lot, including taxes agency charges.  Remittances must be made in U.S. Bank bills or certificates of depo_ite to the credit of the subscribers in any branch of the U.S. Bank.
All demands transmitted to this Agency for collection will receive prompt attention.
The most satisfactory references will in all cases be given.  To accommodate nonresidents the subscribers have employed a Gentleman who will Cau pass through the City of New York in the beginning of November.  All business deeds or papers may be left with Dr John B. Beck  No             Street, New York or with Nichl. H. Beck Eq Schenectady

Crane & Beck
Land Agents
St Louis (Missouri)
August 1. 1819

[outside of letter addressed to] Dr D Romeyn Beck
				 Albany
			Mr Ja____		N.Y.

[from] A. BECK
	Oct. 30. 1819

[inside of letter]

St. Louis  October 30. 1819

Dear Brother

		Allow me the pleasure of introducing to you my friend Mr Jassuss of the Scientific Expedition up the Missouri.  His character and standing are known to the public and need not to be suggested to you to insure your politeness & particular attentions.  Similarity of pursuits will readily make you intimately acquainted and I know you will feel gratified in rendering him every civility in your power

Your Brother
Abrm Beck

Dr D Romeyn Beck
		Albany

[outside of letter addressed to]  Mrs Harriet Beck
				   care of Dr D.R. Beck
				   Albany
				   St. of New York

[postmarked] ST LOUIS. Mo. T  Nov 8

[inside of letter]

My Dear Sister			St Louis		November 6. 1819

	Although I have been so poor a correspondent, yet I hope you will excuse me.  I am certain you would if you knew my present engagements.  My letters to Mother sufficiently explain them.  I wish you was with me 2 or 3 days to see me.  You would not recollect me in my present situation.  My whole soul & body engaged in one object, viz making money.  Morning, noon & night, it is nothing else employs my attention.  When in old Domiss, I used to visit the girls, knew everyone in town besides many out of town.  I have now been nearly a year in town, and I am on visiting acquaintance with 2 girls, sisters & therefore one family & there I have not visited in 4 months.  The only house I have visited in the last 3 mos. Except where sickness called me; has been Pettibone’s & that only once.  I know a number of girls by sight.  I am on speaking terms with about half a dozen.  I visit none.  All my wishes are centered in one thing to make enough to return & visit all my friends in any coach & six – Cream coloured they shall be.  _____

this & the first elegant coach or barouche with six splendid creams, a coachman in front, 2 footmen behind & 6 or 7 outriders will be your dear brother.  But although I visit & know no females, I am perfectly well known to almost every body.  I have kept close to business, but have been dragged into notice by those who dislike me because I am a Yankee, which is an odious term.  But the same cause that made enemies, created warm friends.  Enough for Self, which however is perhaps the only interesting subject to you in St Louis, at least I hope it is the most so.  Notwithstanding St Louis will be a great place & will offer many inducements to Romeyn, 2 or 3 years hence.  Pa___ Giddings a Yankee D____ with but slim or as we Dutchmen would say, anosalby, abilities  teaches a kind of English & Grammer School & it is said has cleared 2000 @ 3000 a year since he has been here.  There is a very great population flocking in.  An immense number of children & young men.  And but small means of getting education.  What say you to a trip to the West side of the

Mississipi.  If I ____ about 8000 or 10000 a year for 2 or 3 years I calculate to buy a snug farm about 1 or 2 miles from St Louis, build a log cabin, fix a garden & have every thing snug.  And in about 4 years come in: with my coach, & bring up mother out & you (if you will come).  This however is all to be paid in dogs as the saying is.  I cannot afford to pay in money.  It is said that Guille the Ballon man has just arrived in town.  As to the truth of the story I cant say.  If it is of any importance to you to know, I will inform you hereafter.  Have you seen in any of the newspaper descriptions of “the Mamelles.”  It was republished in many of the Eastern papers.  It forms part of my tour, to be published _____ in the 31st volume of my posthumous works.  The information I gave you about Helan Marr is unquestionably correct.  I had it from the best sources at Chilocothe, where I assure you the General does not stand too high.  How are all the girls in Albany.  I see the papers & therefore know that none are married & none dead.  Poor Girls  I think some of them ought to be married, they are getting on their last legs.

[on third page but written sideways]

Kiss all of them for me.  Henrietta is well I hope.  I sent her my last New Year’s wish a few days ago.  Some of the Lansins, Kanes, &c &c &c &c married.  Ok ‘dear’ what shall become of them.  Nobody coming to marry, nobody coming to woo  Formerly how happy their state, now alas even ___ is destroyed.  Some comfort in all the missing.  Some half a dozen more will be left when I come with my coach & sure for me to make _______.  I wrote Mother yesterday by mail  I hope she will receive my letter.  Perhaps I will write more regular here after I will if I can.  Lewis is on his way ere this  at least I sincerely hope he will be soon.  His prospects are good if he comes.  I will anxiously look for him.  Give my Love to the Doctor & Mother & to Helen.  Kiss the little Kate at least twenty times for me & tell her uncle often thinks of her.  
					I am affectionately  A.B.

[outside of letter] 
Dear Mother I have received yous of Septr. 11th. although I not notice it in mine.  I will write again soon
			Your affect Son   AB

[outside of letter addressed to] Dr Theod. R. Beck
				 Academy.
				 Albany
				 St. of New York

[from] A. BECK
	May 16. 1820

[postmarked ST. LOUIS. Mo. T May 25]

[inside of letter]

Dear Brother			St Louis Mo		May 16 1820

	Although I have not written to you for some time past, you must by no means attribute it to neglect or want of inclination or regard.  To be assured to write to our dear mother & you my brothers affords me the sincerest pleasure  But the quantity of writing I have to get through is so immense that I sometimes sit down completely disgusted with it, but I have to resume it again before I get over my dislike.  I have now on hand some hundred or 200 letters unanswered.
	My business continues increasing & is becoming very respectable.  Money however is very scarce & comes in very slow, & I have to manage very skilfully to get along, but the prospect is very fair of my being able to get through the whole & realizing a handsome competence besides during a year or two more.  I was in hopes & still am that I will be able to visit you next summer, but I am afraid that I shall not be able to accomplish it.  Nothing you may be certain would afford me such real

pleasure as to visit you all once more
	I am sorry to hear by Mother & Your letter that Harriet & Nicholas have been both so unwell  I hope that they have recovered long ere this completely.
	You wish Lewis to settle as soon as possible in some permanent business.  I am as anxious as you can possibly be.  But he dislikes the practice of medicine, indeed I think it would not be very profitable unless he went in some of the growing towns, & then it would be extremely laborious.  The objection to this place is the immense number of physicians already here.  He is now waiting on a proposal that has been made to him to attend a military Post about 15 or 20 miles from St Louis, at which the Surgeon is to be about for 4 or 6 months.  If he does not go there I shall let him attend to my land business & give him a share of the profits.  It is impossible for one to attend to the whole of it & practice Law besides.  I suspect he will be able to

attend to it without difficulty, as ¾ of it consists in writing letters.
	By this day’s mail I have written a letter to Mother
	Give my Love to Harriet & Nicholas if you see him.  Kiss little Kate for me  I hope she is growing finely – Mother gives flattering accounts of her.

I am
Your Affect Brother
Abrm Beck