Augusta County: Jedediah Hotchkiss to John H. McCue,
May 7, 1859
Summary:
Jedediah Hotchkiss asks John McCue for legal advice concerning a suit against
Hotchkiss. Hotchkiss also writes of the pleasantness of the Springs, and shares
other personal news.
May 7 th 1859
Stribling Springs Va.
Friend McCue:
Today the sheriff showed me a writ of "Fi.Fa." directing him to cause to be made
from me the amt. of the note for which J. T. Brodt
sued me-- I was a good deal surprised -- for I thought we had the matter safely
taken care of, and that we could offsett my note with
his. How is it? How came they to get judgement & what is the state of
our proceedings agst. Brodt. I wish you would,
immediately, write to me, fully, in reference to this,
that I may know what to depend on -- & if you will not be over in time
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to urge the matter to a close I wish you would send over the
papers and instruct me in reference to them, directing what to do. If it's
"Common law', it's not common sense, that I shd. pay
him when he is largely my Ser. Harman has never
sent any queries to me, and so I have not answered them -- I should suppose that
he could be compelled to try the case now -- after waiting so long. I shall
apply to Harman for his interrogatories & I wish you would put all the
legal machinery to work to bring him up -- I tell you he is hard to head off on
anything -- as poor Skinner is finding out to his cost -- worse off the
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track than on. I shall wait anxiously for a reply.
We are having glorious weather now -- joyous May. The candidates for M. C. are in motion too -- so life is stirring on all sides -- The contest though is getting too much one sided -- Harris is decidedly gaining ground -- the Dutch blood is getting up for the favorite son of the "Tenth Legion", I should like to see Skinner elected, myself, but I see no chance for him. My school closes, in 4 weeks [deleted: here], then, I shall go to Chur-ville and open there, perfectly independent, on the 1st of next Sept.
If you can do anything for me, from your region, I will be obliged to you. If you
come over
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at any time, we should be glad to see you at Lock Willow
Farm.
I suppose you saw the notice of Bartlett's Marriage, in the Spectator. He is making a decided stir among the Brooklynites as a preacher. They are improving this place in a way that will render it very attractive -- making walks, renovating cabins &c &c -- It will soon be one of the pleasantest places in the Mts. I had the pleasure of hearing Everett, in Staunton, His address was just what I expected -- from the man & the subject. Of course "Old Augusta" came in for her share of the [unclear: honors]. My wife joins me in kind regards to you & yours--
Truly, your friend
Jed. Hotchkiss
