Your note of the 10 Inst [Instant] [unclear: Coming are ] in view of the stock of westwood is receivd [received] , for which I [unclear: feel ] much gratified , I am of opinion [unclear: however ] , you have valued a portion of yours too high, but this is only a matter of opinion,

Your [unclear: invayed ] is neatly made out and goes to show that you take Some intrest [interest] in forming and improving your hand [unclear: writing ] , this impression is extremely pleasant to me, as your health, prospects, and happiness mostly depend on your course of conduct while young, your health [unclear: has been ] Such as not to [unclear: admit ] of a liberal education, you will as a matter of course, have to turn your attention to Farming or Planting, all proffessions [professions], ([unclear] Lawyers, Doctors, Farmg. [Farming] , & Plantg. [Planting] must [unclear: study their[their] ] different professions and become fond of them or interested in them, before they Can be made profitable or even plesant [pleasant], should your health continue good [unclear: untill the ] and of Sept [September] would it not be well for you to Seat sit in to at School again, I feel very desirous you should do so, if your health will alow [allow] of it, you can improve yourself very much in this way, by attend [added: ing] School

at your present age, [unclear: conected ] with your farming operations, reading history, writing [unclear: ? at home reasonably ] , you will will [will] in a few years be a good English scholar & be qualified for all usefull [useful] business, such as Farming Planting Merchandizing [unclear] all this [unclear] , will require in a young man, Some [unclear] and energy, which I am inclined to think you can perform, [unclear: mostly ] I consider [unclear] trash and ought not to be read by any one,

My health is very little improved, nor have I much idea that it will ever be much better than it now is, I have no idea that I shall live long, in a very short time I must leave you, & my interest for your welfare and for that of your brothers & sisters is beyond all any thing that I can express on paper, the Solisitude [Solicitude] of a Parent for the welfare of a child, you can form no idea

I may take a notion to [unclear: gow [go] ] home in a few [added: days] — or I may not, much will depend on my [unclear: findings ] on Saturday,

Old [unclear: Gray ] is very sick, I [unclear: fear we ] shall loose him, our [unclear: Company ] has nearly all left for the Convention

my Love to your mother & children

Your father

Robert Woods

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Tyrus SpringAugust 12

[added: Paid 6]

Mr. James A. Woods [unclear: Care James ] Woods Esq [Esquire] Nashville