Forwarded from Tracy Stancil LETTER # 5 Mississippi, Sunflower County January 9, 1855 Dear Brother Henry, Your esteemed favour of the 7th December was received yesterday the 8th instant.(Instant was an old term meaning of the current month. Ultimate was used to mean last month or the previous month) So was yours of January last informing me of the results of the division of my father's property duly received. I did not answer yours of January last for several reasons, some of which I will mention. In the first place, I received your letter about the time I shipped my cotton to N. Orleans and thought I would wait until it was sold to remit to you the balance that was due from me. ( He apparently owed Henry money for a slave he had purchased.) My crop was not sold till about the middle of May. It did not bring as much as I expected nor in fact as much as it ought to have done. I had previously bought property to be paid for out of that crop which lacked a little being sufficient, freight interest and commission, however about the time I heard from the sale of my crop, I was lame in one of my feet, occasioned by a hurt which kept me confined to the house for about six weeks. I was at that time very far behind in cultivating my crop and was therefore prevented from making other arrangements to make you the remittance until the season was far advanced and money at such a high rate of interest, I concluded I would wait till I could make a shipment from my present crop, but in consequence of low water, I have not yet shipped any.Besides meeting with great difficulty in obtaining North Carolina bills of suitable size and not knowing that any other would suit, have delayed some on the account. You will please inform me if any other kind would suit, what or if you could use a check on New York for the amount. We regret very much to hear of the misfortune in your family and though at so great distance from you we can and do properly sympathize with you in your affliction; at the same time we are pleased to hear that the health of your family is improving, and that the hand affliction , though visited in severity is again becoming lighter and we hope will soon be removed. We rejoice to hear that our family connection all again enjoying the inestimable blessing of health. Myself and family are enjoying remarkable good health since the last writing with some exceptions. The lameness in my foot that I have already spoken of, some five or six weeks of debility of Rebecca Ann; she has been quite feeble though not confined. The past year has been really dry except a little while in the spring. The crops of corn are generally short and is selling at $1.00 per bushel. The cotton crop I believe are turning out tolerably well. It is thought that it will be equal to last year's crop and bring up here from 6 to 8 cents per pound. In N. Orleans from 6 to 10 cents. Provisions of all kinds are scarce and high. I hear of no pork selling at all except in barrels which has been from $18.00 to $20.00. Flour from $10.00 to $12.00 per barrel.Beef 8 cents, bacon 12 to 15 cents per pound. Mules and horses are very high. Number 1 mules $200. Fine saddle and harness horses from $250 to $300. I shall send Ruel Marcellus and Godfrey both to college this year. Ben Eddie and Ruel Anderson will both go to school also. I have not determined yet where I will send them. I do know that I wish to sell the boy George but wish you to take care of him until I make the remittance due from me to yourself and the others. I have little doubt brother Henry that the draining and clearing up of that spring branch is the principal cause of the sickness in your family. The best way to manage cases of that sort is to stimulate freely and keep up the pulse to its natural highest as possible. You could use ginger, I prefer brandy or whisky. I believe a good article of whisky to be better than brandy. Give them plenty of pepper tea and whisky frequently. If you do not wish to hire the boy George yourself please hire him to someone you think best. Rebecca Ann and all of the children join with me in presenting to yourself, your family, and all relatives our best wishes and highest respects. May the God in heaven bless, guide and direct you through time and its uncertainties and finally save you in his everlasting kingdom above. Present our respects to all our relatives and enquiring friends and accept for yourself sentiments of highest regards. Your brother, most affectionately, Caswell Stancill P.S. I have no hesitation in saying that I perfectly agree to the appropriation and purchase you propose to make for the Grave Stones. If nothing prevents, I will write to brother Jesse in about one month. C. Stancill My post office now is Shell Mound, Sunflower County, Miss. Write me your most convenient post office. I scarcely know where to direct letters to you. C.S.