Photocopy of letter signed E.A. Hitchcock, St. Louis, to Mother, Mrs. L.C. Hitchcock. I wrote to you from this place a few weeks ago after hearing of Henry’s failure. My further reflections on the subject of the failures in the country have not changed my mind. They will restore the country to its proper state, which has been abominably deranged. Have no uneasiness about the condition of things. Your children are all in the middle – the prime of life, with a fair share of education and are all temperate. I am the most worthless of the three and yet I see a thousand things I could do if my commission were taken away from me. The money difficulties have not yet touched the merchants of this place, but the day of general failure is close at hand. Discussion of practice of merchants here to buy in New York or other Eastern cities – extension of their notes etc. Most of the eastern merchants have failed and notes here must be paid. The Government will be compelled to charge a national bank. I see the public deposits in Mississippi are refused on a Treasury draft. (acc. no. 70-0017), 1837 May 15, Box: 1. Parker-Russell Family Papers, A1181. Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center.

Photocopy of letter signed E.A. Hitchcock, St. Louis, to Mother, Mrs. L.C. Hitchcock. I wrote to you from this place a few weeks ago after hearing of Henry’s failure. My further reflections on the subject of the failures in the country have not changed my mind. They will restore the country to its proper state, which has been abominably deranged. Have no uneasiness about the condition of things. Your children are all in the middle – the prime of life, with a fair share of education and are all temperate. I am the most worthless of the three and yet I see a thousand things I could do if my commission were taken away from me. The money difficulties have not yet touched the merchants of this place, but the day of general failure is close at hand. Discussion of practice of merchants here to buy in New York or other Eastern cities – extension of their notes etc. Most of the eastern merchants have failed and notes here must be paid. The Government will be compelled to charge a national bank. I see the public deposits in Mississippi are refused on a Treasury draft. (acc. no. 70-0017), 1837 May 15, Box: 1. Parker-Russell Family Papers, A1181. Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center. https://mohistory.mobiusconsortium.org/repositories/2/archival_objects/51157 Accessed September 19, 2024.