Geyer, Chas. A. 

 1843, May l6th 

 Westport, Mo. 



TRANSLATION 



Westport, Mo., l6th May 18^3 



Dear Doctor, 



Only today I bought myself a pony and tomorrow or day after tomorrcw we shall 

 probably depart. I was unable to obtain a good animal for less than 35 Dollars. 

 For the pony which Sublett ordered for me I was supposed to pay even 40 Dollars. 

 I bought the one I own now from Richters and gave him a draft of yours for the 

 part I did not have, just as you wrote me to do; the draft is drawn on Angelrodt, 

 Eggers & Barth and it should be easy for him. Yesterday, Sir William gave me the 

 order to teil this disgusting Matthea to leave the camp immediately and for good 

 since he realized he was nothing but a fool and an ignorant and awkward person. 

 This rude fellow is rolling around drunk in the woods surrounding Westport. It 

 seems he saved me the trouble of telling him since I have not seen him since yesterday 

 noon and he probably ran away. Mr. Hagender, Lüders and Dr. Marsch are sending 

 greetings. It is incredible what a fortress of wagons is buijUing up around Westport 

 in order to go to Oregon. Every day more are Coming. I only regret that Dr. Smet 

 is not going with us or is not leading himself his well equipped caravan; I can only 

 hope he won't regret to have entrusted it to an inexperienced person. One of the 

 gentlemen who joined Sir William 1 s party was arrested yesterday in Westport by the 

 sheriff from Independence and accused of having used in New Orleans kö thousand 

 Dollars in Treasury notes. . .Sis» William is very angry about this incident and it 

 is not good to come close to him. It is very possible that Lüders and I will spend 

 the winter with the Jesuites, at least I still have hope ... I shall write you again 

 from Fort Laramie and from then on at every opportunity I have. All letters arriving 

 for me you probably better send on to me via the Father of the Jesuit College in 

 St. Louis; since it might be too insecure to use the für Company since I don't 

 know when I shall arrive at Fort Laramie. 



Lüdars now has a mule for 35 Dollars and has much trouble obtaining a second 

 one, but will probably be able to this week. I shall have to put shoes on my horse 

 and then I shall go to the camp which I have not seen yet since Lüders and I 

 enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Hornung in Westport. However, my luggage is in the 

 camp and I told Sir William if he should find it too much to let me know, but he 

 said I should take everything with me. 



Farewell for k weeks or two months. Should I have an opportunity in the 

 meantime to write you I shall not let it go by. Give my greetings to Nicollet when 

 you write him as well as to my other friends and acquaintances. 



Gratefully yours, 

 Chas. A. Geyer 



