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Samuel Jackson to Rachel Jackson Lawrence
Clifton Plantation November) ^th) 18 60
My ever dearest Sister
In solitude and cQone I take my seat in my old mosqui^to house to pen you a few lines. Pa is not now with me. I have received two letters for him from Ma which I know he would like so much to see for he has not heard from any of you since my return. We went over to New Orleans two or three days after the election but found Lincoln was elected and so much excitement we thought it prudent for me to return. I left Pa in N.O. not knowing what he would do, but we are compeled to leave this place
out
and seek	where we can make a living^it is impossible to stay
here another year. I received a letter from Pa last week in
which he stated he would start the next day (the 11th) for Uncle
John's on the Ar]g/riverj if he could find no^place up there he
would go up on the Hiwassie.	I hope he may succeed in	Ark.	I
would prefer having a cotton	farm, for	I dont think we	would	be
able to pay for a place in [	]	but by buying a cotton place,
r bis
we would p?Lank] able to make the payments & the^e fbiank] -[purT] chase the Hermitage, for I think	the Legislature	would	be
glad for Pa to hold it for a	few years	longer, when^if	successful
will be able to get it a^gain^and I think they will accept Pa's proppisition.
I am here just waiting for the time to leave. Pa concluded
So
not to hire his hands out, as they would be subject to^many risks in N.O. so they are doing little or nothing. I have had every place cleaned, fences fixed &c &c and it looks like a^nother place to what it did when I returned in September. The Russ