By Brier I send you a line & my love I hear that you are located at Murfreboro [Murfreesboro] this I hope will be no longer than the next legislature can make provision for your office to be removed back to Nashville , where for the advantage of those interested it ought to be. This needs no argument to prove, because it must be obvious to all and why it was at first taken ordered from there, is what I never could account for__ as the public Interest shd [should] be the object of public measures. But I fear this is not always the case

Brier complaines [complains] a good deal of a pain in his side I fear that the evil will increase in proportion to his want of [unclear: exercercise [exercise] ] shd this affliction increase it will be indispensible [indispensable] for him to pursue more active employment.

Should he continue there, would not his prospects for a clerkship to the Legislature be such as to Justify the attempt. To him it would be an object of considerable Interest, as well pecuniary as otherwise In want of success, his absence from your business would be but short. And I were I

to Judge of the future from the past, and from the conceptions of your I have formed of your character, I would expect every facility reasonably in your power to be promptly afforded to promote his Interest The [unclear: corp ] & cordeal [cordial] relations of friendship which has so long subsisted between your Father & me, together with the kindness of yourself to me & mine, warrants this opinion. I being compa [added: ra] tively poor, & having many children, increases the necessity for them to use exertions for them to provide for themselves. I have labored to prepare them for useful life, but how far they will realise [realize] those advantages remains to be proven a young man Just entering on the great theatre of human life is much dependent on the friendship of those in advance of himself for success.That let his personal worth be what it may it is with great difficulty he can progress without the aid of friends and when it happens that a young man has in this way, arrived at prosperity his gratitude to his patrons is a source of unerasing pleasure as well as it is to those who have been instrumental in promoting the advancement of the worthy. On this subject I speak not from speculation, but expearence [experience] having often recd [received] many acts of disinterested friendship and in my turn have enjoyed much pleasure in assisting others

who needed my help such are the [unclear: social ] obligation which devalue on us all, that when properly indulged, they consitute [constitute] the highest enjoyment of human life, which on the other had [hand] were they withheld the wheels of the social compact would scarcely move

I expect to make a trip to Winchester some time this spring, as Murfreboro lies not much out of my way, design to call them & pay you a visit

The winter here has been un [gap] cold but it [added: is] now over & gone, & the spring is ushered in with pleasing prospects. Now my friend farewell, may you long live to enjoy life & do good, & when your days are numbered, and you are called to go the way of all flesh, may you be prepared for & accepted into the mansions of immortal bliss to enjoy the company of Angels & the spirits of Just men made perfect is my prayer for Christs sake____

Wm [William] Martin

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Frances McGavock Esqr [Esquire] Murfreboro W Martin } Tennessee