Joseph Howells letter to Thomas Rotch, Manhatten Ville, 11 Mo 29th 1811

               
  B-96-1
                            Manhatten Ville 11 Mo 29th  1811
   Esteemed Friend
    Thomas Roach
              Hearing by my Friend J Barrow
  of thy removal to the Western Country and having
  the pleasure of making thy Acquaintance when at
  Hartford I make free to address thee not doubting
  but thou will favour me with a reply and give me
  all the information I want upon the subject I am
  about to write.
      For a Considerable time past * have had it
  in serious Contemplation to remove with my Family
  to some part of the Country thou art now residing
  in being fully Convinced from all the different Accounts
  I have collected that no Country perhaps in the World
  offers much greater Advantages to a rising family in low
  Circumstances than the Western States does but for want
  of obtaining more accurate information from persons
  residing in the Country whose Varacity I could rely upon
  as to an eligible Situation for my Business and rather
  lacking in the means to enable me to move I was obliged
  to Wave it for a time. But now Circumstances
  renders it Absolutely necessary that I should enter
                            this
  into some Arrangements of ^kind and leave this place
  early in the ensuing Spring if possible.
    Since I first came to this place untill lately
  I have been wholely in the employ of John Barrow