NAWSA GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE West, Charles W. P.S. - The old Boat shakes so that I have been unable to make this intelligible, yet I hope thou canst make it out. I went up on this Boat on which I found a character of Steward. a young man who last year lived at the 'American' in Cleveland & who is a very clean fellow - Thou must know that he is willing to assist his fellow mortals to the good things of this life & I am not as firmly weaned from the world as not to accept his kindnesses. - indeed I even reward him for his very kind attention to my wants. - - We will be to Rochester if all goes right to morrow about noon. & I shall probably attend the sabbath there. -- some of my friends there have no doubt forgotten me - others dead - others moved away - but I expect some of them are there still - on such I design to call & hope to make my short visit a pleasant one. - excuse this miserable scrawl for my head is so muddled that I cannot get an idea through it -- Thine, Charles 25 Mr. Henry B. Blackwell Cincinnati Ohio Buffalo 1843 Single Chas. W. West to H. B. B. 1843 Steamer De Witt Clinton, Lake Erie from Detroit to Buffalo, 8th Mo 4th 1843 Friend Henry Thy much esteemed favor of 25th ult reached me at Manings just as I was leaving for Home & never did letter receive a more cordial welcome. - I have nothing interesting to write & would defer until my return home, anything I may more communicate had thou not expressed so much anxiety to hear from me. - I had a very pleasant time going up - fell in with very good companions and had very pleasant brethren, both of which are calculated to add to our enjoyments. - from Cincinnati to Cleveland the company consisted of Friends George Carlisle & Lady daughter & son - and Professor Mitchell with whom I became very well acquainted & who I find to be the very best of people. - I left them at Cleveland with regrets - they to down the Lake & [?]. - Prof. Mitchell was going to solicit Jno[?] Quincy Adams to assist in laying the Corner stone of the Observatory at Cin[cinnati]. - I fear he did not succeed - though I hope he did. - Friend Carlisle and folks to visit their friends in the state of New York. - At Columbus I called at Friend Hubbards as Thou hadst directed me to see Anna. But I must have misunderstood this, as they told me she did not stop there - I as my stay then was short, I did not make any enquiries further. - I found my Michigan Friends well. - My Friends Hiram Moore and his Lady extremely so & overjoyed to see me. - They live in the most delightful spot in the West too much retired for most people, but if I have seen true enjoyment in any family if was them. - Hiram is a man of strong mind is grounded wholly by reason, and never lets any feeling operate on his actions. - Harriett (his wife) is a truly religious Woman and is so consistent that no exceptions can be taken to her by any person - Thou wouldst be happy in her society. - How I wish Thou couldst have accompanied me. - My great object in visiting them was to learn the situation of the Harvesting Machine in which thou are aware I have an interest and which I thought of selling out. - I saw them operate & to such certain satisfaction that I never mentioned the subject -- The machines are calculated to cut. thresh & clean ready for the mill --25 to 35 acres per day -- 2 of them I saw operate, but the cleaning apparatus was not attach to them hence the grain had to be taken to the Barns for cleaning -- with those they harvest for 25 to 30 acres daily -- & [?] $3. per acre the farmer bounding the men & teams. -- 8 to 10 Horses & 3 to 4 men are necessary to operate one, -- I fully believe they are entirely practicable on all Prairie Lands, & feel confident that the small interest I own in them will make me comfortably rich, - so sure do I feel at any rate that I will hold on while I have the power. -- My other business as Marengo is not so will situated -- The Lands as valueless at present, -- & settlers are making them more so. for they feel justified in stealing timber from Lands unoccupied & already mine have been a prey to them, - My House & other village Property is going to decay, for want of proper care & I would almost give it away. - -My claim against S. S Allcott H. &c. I expect will be contested, & it may be that I cannot get judgment against any but S. S. Allcott, if so it is not worth a Dollar. -- -- In view of all these facts my only sheet anchor is the very thing I valued least -- the Harvestry Machine: -- There is a very good crop of wheat in Michigan, & the Farmers need it very much. for they always run in debt on the strength of their crops, -- The Rail Road is progressing & will probably be completed to Marshall by new Years -- This Road is already a source of revenue to the State. & when completed will be a great thoroughfare -- even now the travel on it is considerable -- it is the great Northern Route East & West, & when completed will make the time necessary to travel from Chicago to New York only 90 Hours. --This seems impossible but it is over true. -- Detroit is not improving very rapidly, but what they are doing is permanent. -- I spent 2 days there -- saw the principal Democrats. who feel well as respects the future. --They are mostly in favor of Van Buren for the next President -- a few are warm for Calhoun & a small clique for Coss -- the latter are the conservatives & those who have long been disaffected. In as much as I could not settle my claim against S. S. Allcott &c. & two of the firm live in Rochester N. Y. - I am bound there. if possible to clear it up. even though I have to take Paper having considerable time to run, -- While at Rochester I may find the expense so little more via Phila. then Home [?] that I may take that route. if so will not be home before 15th Inst. -- As regards the feelings of friend Atkins I care but little. for I am very easy about any longer being his man Friday. -- That his countenance seems to them. sharpened out is very easily explained -- He has been quite unwell from over anxiety about his D, -- My Friend Cornelius I am glad to hear has quickened his pace, for I had heard he was contracting rather slow habits. -- He is a Man for whom I feel great respect & in whose welfare I feel a deep interest. -- I heard from them since I left through William who wrote me all Marengo. - He informed me that he was about to make a visit to the Hoosier State -- I hope he had a pleasant visit. for he is very clever fellow. I rejoice much that thou & thy friend Sam had such a fine time at [?], I gave no doubt you were very much improved spiritually -- judging from the Gentlemanly treatment you received at the hands of Capt Bacon's Barkeeper. -- The seventh day evening entertainments which thou witnessed & which seemed so much to gratify thee. I have no doubt even instructive, & I very much doubt which the Bumpers in which my Health was proposed at Selviss' added more to your good feelings than the "knowing the fact" adds to mine. -- on [???] day evening I visited the theatre at the City of Detroit & witnessed Edwin Hasset in Richelieu & though he was very poorly sustained. I never enjoyed a Tragedy better. -- He is on a Pleasure Trip up the Lakes & I should not be surprised if he returns via Cincinnati. when we will have a chance to see him. -- He is certainly the greatest personator of a great Character that lives -- I must [?] -- & if the Postoffice is open at Buffalo I will pay this -- if not pay it thyself -- my respects to the Folks & the old Chums -- Thine Truly Charles W. West Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.