University of Virginia Library

TO FRANCIS CORBIN.[18]

Dr Sir,—I had the pleasure of receiving, a few

days ago, your favor post-marked the 18th, in lieu
of the greater pleasure with which I should have
received you in propria persona. I am sorry you
so readily yielded to the consideration which deprived
us of it in September. The addition of your
company would have been felt no otherwise than
as an ingredient highly acceptable to that you would
have met here, as well as to Mrs. M. and myself.
For a day or two, indeed, you might have been
involved in the common distress occasioned by the
hopeless and expiring condition of the little son of
Mrs. Scott; but even that drawback might not have
taken place within the period of your visit.

You complain of the times, which are certainly
very hard; but you have a great abatement of your
comparative suffering in your paper funds, notwithstanding
the suspension of their current productiveness.
This is but a lucrum cessans. How
many are feeling the damnum emergens also! Besides,
in the event of a necessary sale of property,
(certainly not your case,) the paper property is the
only sort that can find a tolerable and certain
market. Whilst I condole with you, therefore, on
the hardships in which you participate, I must
congratulate you on your escape from a portion
which afflicts others. The general condition of these
is truly lamentable. If debtors to the Banks, nothing
can relieve them but a renewal of discounts, not
to be looked for: if owing debts, for discharging

which they have relied on crops or prices, which
have failed, they have no resource but in the sale of
property, which none are able to purchase. With
respect to all these, the times are hard indeed;
the more so, as an early change is so little within the
reach of any fair calculation.

I do not mean to discuss the question how far
slavery and farming are incompatible. Our opinions
agree as to the evil, moral, political, and economical,
of the former. I still think, notwithstanding, that
under all the disadvantages of slave cultivation,
much improvement in it is practicable. Proofs
are annually taking place within my own sphere of
observation; particularly where slaves are held in
small numbers, by good masters and managers.
As to the very wealthy proprietors, much less is to
be said. But after all, (protesting against any
inference of a disposition to underrate the evil of
slavery,) is it certain that in giving to your wealth
a new investment, you would be altogether freed
from the cares and vexations incident to the shape
it now has? If converted into paper, you already
feel some of the contingencies belonging to it; if into
commercial stock, look at the wrecks every where
giving warning of the danger. If into large landed
property, where there are no slaves, will you cultivate
it yourself? Then beware of the difficulty of procuring
faithful or complying labourers. Will you
dispose of it in leases? Ask those who have made
the experiment what sort of tenants are to be found
where an ownership of the soil is so attainable. It

has been said that America is a country for the poor,
not for the rich. There would be more correctness
in saying it is the country for both, where the latter
have a relish for free government; but, proportionally,
more for the former than for the latter.

Having no experience on the subject myself, I
cannot judge of the numerical point at which congratulations
on additional births cease to be appropriate.
I hope that your 7th son will in due time
prove that in his case, at least, they were amply
called for; and that Mrs. C. and yourself may long
enjoy the event as an addition to your happiness.

Mrs. M. unites with me in this, and in every assurance
of respect and good wishes to you both.