
          Oriskany April 2nd 1842.

My Dear Friend.

I have been busily engaged since I
received your last letter mailed March 7th Ult.
to bring my affairs here into a suitable shape
to leave for a while. My progress has been slow
but I am getting then into a better condition
money matters are [peculiarly?] embarrassing here
from the circumstances that our manufacturers
have not been in the habit of paying their
hands any money for many months past.
I have been obliged to tarry here longer from
another circumstance. Our manufacting companies
are in the habit of settling with
their employees once a quarter, and I
have been obliged to wait until this time
(the first of April).- to make transfers in
order to pay some small debts and to
provide something for my family's support
during my absence. I however hope to
get to New York by next Saturday or in a
few days afterwards (if the Lord be willing.)

I have a lot of sections ready for boxing
up and there are still a few more in
this section of the country which I cannot get
I cut them 2 ft. 4 inches long and the most
of them are over 6 inches in diameter. I
intend to nail the ends to the boxes so as
to prevent rubbing. The ends may be cut
off again and still the sections will be 2 ft
long. I cannot get Celtis Occidentalis nor
[peperidge?], without making  a journey to Oneida Lake.
        