Tabor, Iowa, Aug. 8, 1857.
George L. Stearns,
Esq., Boston, Mass.
My Dear Sir, —
In consequence of ill-health and other hindrances too numerous and unpleasant
to write about, the least of which has not been the lack of sufficient
means for freight bills and other expenses, I have never as yet returned to
Kansas. This has been unavoidable, unless I returned without securing the
principal object for which I came back from the Territory; and I am now waiting
for teams and means to come from there to enable me to go on.1 I
obtained two teams and wagons, as I talked of, at a cost of seven hundred and
eighty-six dollars, but was obliged to hire n teamster and to drive one team
myself. This unexpected increase of labor, together with being much of the time
quite unwell and depressed with disappointments and delays, has prevented my
writing sooner. Indeed, I had pretty much determined not to write till I should
do it from Kansas. I will tell you some of my disappointments. I was flattered
with the expectation of getting one thousand dollars from Hartford City and
also one thousand dollars from New Haven. From Hartford I did get about two
hundred and sixty dollars, and a little over in some repair of arms. From New
Haven I got twenty-five dollars; at any rate, that is all I can get any advice
of. Gerrit Smith supplied me with three hundred and fifty dollars, or I could
not have reached this place. He also loaned me one hundred and ten dollars to
pay to the Thompsons who were disappointed of getting their money for the farm
I had agreed for and got possession of for use. I have been continually hearing
from them that I have not fulfilled, and that I told them I should not
leave the country till the thing was completed. This has exceedingly mortified
me. I could tell you much more had I room and time. Have not given up. Will
write more when I get to Kansas.
Your friend,
John Brown.
_______________
1 Have here and at Nebraska City five full loads.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of
John Brown, p. 411-2
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