CHAPTER VI.

"1816, January 1st. This year finds me involved in perplexity and vexation. My business at present is, I believe, the most uncomfortable in the world, and I am engaged in it with those who afford me little pleasure or prospect of gain. Mr. Henderson is gone, and some even express doubts whether he will return.

His situation is indeed embar

rassed, and, what is very singular, he never gave me the least hint of it. I have stopped all accounts which were opened in our names, and am determined on having a new arrangement the moment he returns.

"There was a ball here at Christmas, which I attended. On the evening of the ball I had an application to attend to a land claim in this county, on which a man by the name of Bullock wished to bring suit. The next morning I went out about eight miles with him, and spent the day in carrying the chain.

"In the evening I returned to Georgetown to superintend the publication of the paper. In the morning I again went out, spent the day in making out and serving ejectments, and at night was completely exhausted and sick.

"This claim covers upwards of eight hundred acres; one fourth part of which Bullock agrees to give me, should he recover, as a compensation for my services. If it be lost through my fault, I pay the cost; if through defect of title, he pays it. The prospect is good for recovering it.

"10th. After my agreement with Bullock, I began to revolve in my mind my future prospects, and eventually concluded that I had better release myself from the printing-office, except so far as relates to the editing of the paper, and accordingly laid a plan, by which the office was to be sold to Shellers and Lyle, while I should remain editor, and continue the practice of law.

"Accordingly, I proposed this plan, and at first it seemed quite likely to be effected. But on making a calculation from the past, Shellers was not satisfied, and suggested to me that I was probably sinking money every day. I sat down and made a balance of accounts, which likewise convinced me of the fact. The paper, the advertising, and the

job-work will not support the office. Just at this time, too, I received a letter from Colonel R. M. Johnson, in answer to one I had written, informing me that Colonel James had a mortgage upon the office even before I bought. This put me in great trepidation. I began to look around for security, and lay hold of everything which I could rightfully take into my possession. Mr. Henderson, however, returned four days. ago. I went to see him, and brought him to my office that very evening. Here a conversation took place not very agreeable to either of us, which ended in an agreement that I should relinquish my purchase to him, and give him all the labor I have bestowed, on condition he should put accounts into my hands sufficient to secure me against my notes and every account which has arisen since I became interested.

"I had all the accounts for subscriptions to the paper made over on the spot, and an agreement to that effect lodged in the hands of T. S. Theobald. The estimated amount of these is more than $2,000.

"I declined having anything more to do with the paper, excepting as an editor, in which capacity I would continue to act until the return of Colonel J. Johnson. The hands, however, refused to work unless he would make them secure, which he did, by giving me liberty to collect accounts sufficient to pay them. But, after some deliberation, it was concluded to stop the paper at the next number.

"16th. The report of the intended stoppage of the paper raised a considerable ferment, and many advised me to proceed, but in vain. Today, three days from its proper time, has been issued the last number of the Minerva Press.' During last week I carried out the subscription accounts, but find a considerable amount of them belongs to Chambers, and that four of my notes, instead of two, as I had been told, have been transferred to J. Johnson. I have not given up the office, nor shall I until I know myself entirely secure. I have now to go to work and collect accounts. Mr. Henderson allows me fifteen per cent on all moneys collected, and Chambers twenty on all out of the county belonging to him.

"I shall set out in a few days and make a business of it. I have made out the post-office returns for the last quarter, and find the commission much smaller than I expected. After paying Miller according to agreement, it will not leave me more than $ 60 per year.

"18th. Induced by the solicitations of the people here, I have this day, in conjunction with Shellers and Lyle, issued proposals for a new paper to be published here, which will be called the 'Georgetown Patriot.' Our determination is that we will not begin unless we have five hundred subscribers. Whether that number can be procured is at least doubtful. I am, myself, very indifferent about it, as I am certain it will be more for my final interest to continue the practice of law. I

have learnt by experience how vexatious is the business of an editor, or rather of an owner of a newspaper establishment.

"21st. I received a letter this morning from Colonel R. M. Johnson, who seemed, as I thought, to be a little displeased with a letter I wrote him some days ago, in answer to the one from him which informed me that Colonel James had a mortgage on the office. Suspecting that he had written more fully, and probably more freely, to Mr. Ward on the subject, I asked Mr. Ward. He told me that the Colonel supposed I must think he and his brother had acted very dishonorably with me in respect to the purchase of the office; that I seemed to think I was in bad hands, and that James was coming home soon, when he would probably release me, etc., etc. I felt very much hurt, as I had never harbored a thought that there had been anything dishonorable in them, although a suspicion, or rather a possibility of the thing sometimes flashed across my mind before I had an explanation from Henderson. I sat down and wrote to him, disclaiming in warm terms all ideas of the kind and making a statement of the facts in which I had been deceived by Henderson, and likewise requested Mr. Ward to write on the subject, who promised. I have no doubt he will be satisfied, but care little whether he is or not. "22d. On hearing that a young lady in town had said some fine things of me, I had a curiosity to see her. She is a sister of Mrs. Taylor, named Payne, in high repute. I called at her brother's, but did not fall in love, though I was pleased.

"29th. I intended to have gone on collecting business ere this, but could get nobody to stay in the post-office. I have written to Mr. Hough, now in Lexington, who I think will come. Should he not, Mr. Shellers will stay, and I shall set out on Wednesday or Thursday. It is a disagreeable job, and I wish it was done. Our subscription goes on tolerably well, but I still doubt of success.

"February 1st. Had a letter from Colonel James Johnson, in which he expresses much surprise at the sensitiveness which I displayed in my letters to his brother, and seems to be offended at one expression therein contained. It was that I would not hold property so subject to the control of any man, as by any possibility to influence the opinions which I must necessarily express. He seems to apply it to himself, but I intended no such application. It was intended to be a general idea, and I particularly excepted him. It gave me considerable pain; but I am resolved to maintain the opinion as well as the practice, though I may hazard the indignation of all the world. He says I likewise spoke roughly of Mr. Henderson. It is true that I did speak more roughly than facts would justify, but I was then under a mistake, I thought he had sold me property which was not his own. But the Colonel confirms Mr. Henderson's account that the mortgage has been redeemed, and, as

he thinks, given up. Thus all this misunderstanding has arisen from Mr. Henderson's not communicating to me the real situation of the business. But sometimes I am careless whether the Johnsons are my friends or not; for if they were enemies, I should have an object for competition. At any rate, if they, in the present situation of affairs, become hostile to me, I shall be convinced that all they want of me is to make me a tool. But I flatter myself, if such be their plan, they will not find me so smooth to their hands as they could wish. But excepting only the offence which seems to be taken at that letter, I have no cause to suspect them.

"3d. The Colonel, it is said, will be at home in a day or two, and I intend to call on him immediately for an explanation. As I must fortify myself in some measure at the expense of Mr. Henderson, I have invited him to accompany me.

"The Colonel seems to be willing to take the office, and I think it best for me to give it up and quit the paper entirely.

"4th. Rode out to the Great Crossings with Mr. Henderson to see Colonel J. Johnson; but he had not come home. After my return, I sat down and wrote him a statement of the case, which I shall request Mr. Henderson to hand to him.

"5th. Mr. Hough, who will remain in my office during my absence, arrived to-day.

"7th. Set out on my journey. Dined at Berry's, and stopped for the night at Captain Eli Short's. Got eighty-five cents to-day.

"8th. Proceeded on to Nelson's. Went several miles in a circuit through the woods and hills; saw one deer, which was the first wild one I ever saw, and returned to Nelson's.

"9th. Went down upon the Crooked Creek road and settled with the subscribers there. This evening was excessively cold, and I was almost frozen before I reached Clarke's, on the road.

"10th. Though very cold, I started out before breakfast this morning, and visited two subscribers at some distance from the road. Before I reached the house of the first my whiskers and the lappels of my great coat were covered with frost. Here, for the first time, I got angry, and promised to warrant a man.

"Breakfasted at Arnold's, and then went on to Theobald's.

Here was

a collection of people paying the direct tax; and here I first became acquainted with Joseph Glenn, the deputy collector.

"11th. Having left a number of accounts with G. P. Theobald for collection, I went forward to Gain's. Here again there was a considerable collection on a trial, and among them several subscribers.

"There were several packets of papers left at Gain's, which Mr. Henderson had agreed should be left in other neighborhoods. Most of these

men should have received their papers in those packets. They declared to me they had never taken the paper from Gain's, and therefore would not pay. I proposed that they should pay for what papers they had received. To this they agreed, and supported each other in saying they had received but about twelve papers. For this number I settled with four of them, but discovered that they had imposed upon me. They had taken the papers from Gain's, and had received more than twelve papers. One of the men was high sheriff of Boone County, named Wigginton.

"12th. This day I went down into Mr. Wigginton's neighborhood to Ben Stevens's and Will Stevens's, satisfied myself that these men had imposed upon me, and returned to Gain's.

"13th. Drew out accounts against those with whom I had settled, and put those with all others which I had in this neighborhood into the hands of a constable, ordering him to warrant Mr. Wigginton without delay. Rode down to Boone court-house. Found there a Yankee by the name of Boson, a lawyer.

"Having learnt by experience how much confidence is to be placed in the people of this quarter, I put all my accounts into the hands of a constable. I shall pursue this plan for the future.

"15th. Having some business with Squire Grant, I steered for his house. He lives in a bend of Licking. You pass along two miles on a stupendous ridge, with the river at its foot both on your right and left. At length you pass off its end into a bottom of considerable size, and here lives Squire Grant. With improvements, the place might be made. singularly romantic.

"I had a demand on this man for $30, from Daniel Bradford, of Georgetown. He had not the money, but said he would meet me the next day at Elijah Grant's, and pay the money. I pushed on to Elijah Grant's, where I again met with Glenn, collecting taxes.

"17th. Grant met me here to-day, but instead of making any arrangement, slipped away without my knowledge. I shall send a constable after him. This evening went on with Glenn to Grant's Lick.

"18th. This morning enclosed to a constable all my accounts in this neighborhood, and rode to Falmouth with Mr. Glenn. On the road saw two beautiful deer.

"Falmouth is a mean place, surrounded by poor land. The only favorable circumstance which attends it is the commerce of Licking. Poor land has, on account of the intercourse with Cincinnati through this channel, obtained a value superior to that of better land in other quarters.

"19th. Spent the day at Captain Smith's, it being impossible to pass the creeks, on account of the height of the waters.