Since my Last of the 31st inst [instant], I am in possision [possession] of your favour [favor] of the 23 of March.

In reply of your questions about business in general here, I reply, that I think there is great & good prospects, for men of Capital in this place as well as in the surrounding country.

At this time there are Seven Stores in Jackson, they are all doing a good buseniss [business], beside Madison County (our county) which is settled mostly by wealthy people, there are from three to four Counties more, who do their trading in this Place — Jackson has considerably the Start of another town in the district, & I have no doubt will keep it for many years to come

At present there is no Store Rooms or house to be had immediately on the Public Square; but as one of the Merchants is about to sell out, there might be a probability of getting his house, which is a good Stand on the Square near the courthouse yet unless application be made shortly, some body [somebody] else will rent it, as there is a talk of some new Store to come here; house rent is very high and not less than from 12 to 15 dollars or more a

[a] month by the year; Board & Lodging is three dollars & a half & without Lodgen [Lodging] three dollars per Week. — We get our goods by the way of the Mississippi River , they [added: are] landed at George C. Barfields at the Canadian Reach, Arkansas . [unclear: T. ] four miles above the mouth of Forked Deer River , on the Mississippi from there they [added: are] forwarded in Reel Boats to this place; the freight from the Miss. [Mississippi] to Jackson is from 62 ¹/₂ cents to 75 per hundred pounds — they are landed one mile from town, and have to be hauled in wagons that short distance —

The distance from the mouth of the Forked D [Deer] to Jackson is two hundred miles by water and one of the disagreablest [most disagreeable] River to navigate I ever Saw. — The nearest point from here to Tennessee River is about Sixty miles from here, & the best Landing would be Reynoldburg on Tens. [Tennessee] River, from which place good would have to be wagoned at the rate of $1.50 to $1.75 or $ 2 per [unclear: 100 ]. — The Forked Deer is not navagable [navigable] all the year, but only in Spring and at the time of high [unclear: freskes ], yet it keeps up generaly [generally] untill [until] some time in May. — My advise would be, for one of you, to come first to this country & see yourself & take a rout [route] through the district and see the little Towns & their prospecks [prospects]. —

The last news from N. [New] Orleans are very discouraging cotton is selling there from 6 to 9 ¢ — this will have some influence in selling of goods, as money will be scarse [scarce]. Besides the Land office will open here on the 1st day of May to enter land at 50 ¢ per acre and will swap a great part of our circulating medium — yet after all this, there is still a great opening for men of Capital in sundry Speculation, & if I had only the funds, I could make money here, but the way I am situated from hand to mouth, I have to tipple the best way I can, yet hope to come out yet some day —

I have told you now enough to give you some ensight [insight] of the Situation of this country & you can take your measures accordingly —

In your letter I might have exspected [expected] something about my business I [unclear: left ] with you, but [added: you] did not even mention it — in my Last I requested you to collect the Notes and amounts the shortest way possible, I repeat the same, & would thank you when you write to me again to let me know what the prospects are —

I remain your friend

Charles L. Barth

[added: P.S. [Post Script] If the [unclear: French cook ] of Elliot Bachee would still be about there ask him if he would come [unclear: & live ] with me as a Baker & confectioner?? C.L.B—]

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[added: Jackson Ten [Tennessee]
21 April 1826 } 18 ¹/₄]

Messrs [Messeiurs] Rhea & McCrabb Athens [unclear: Ala ]

[added: Mail }]