
          Arvd.? March 5th

Oriskany Feb. 23rd 1842.

My Dear Friend

I suppose you are still full of business
since I have not heard from you for some time.
In your last communication you mentioned that you
hoped to see your brother Mr Wm Torrey respecting the
New Jersey project, before you closed your letter, but
as there was no further mention made of the subject,
I concluded that you had not the opportunity of consulting
him on the subject. I should like to 
ascertain pretty soon whether the locality is still
unoccupied by a physician, or whether it is supplied
with one. With respect to my prospects, for improvement
[barely?] by my professional business, in this place
the aspect is rather unpromising. The place as you
are aware, is chiefly dependent on the Manufactories
for its support and prosperity. The pressure of
the scarcity of money is particularly felt by the inhabitants
in our vicinity. The labourers are obliged
to work for low wages, & for their services the receive
only Store pay at advanced prices, many of them are
scarcely able to support their families from week 
to week much less to pay their other debts and
expenses, and this makes it not very easy for me
to collect my dues at this time. Mr. S. N. Dexter
late Canal Commissioner of this section (who is
a heavy stockholder in this and the Valley Factory)
has just returned from Albany and cries out
bitterly hard times & ruination of our country, &
apparently for the purpose of oppressing the
poor labourers in the employment of the establishment
by reducing their wages still more, and
reaping a little more of the profit himself.
        