“It is a long time since I have written to you, but I have not forgotten your kindness, and I am now going to tax it—I hope not too highly—but don’t be alarmed, it is not a loan, but information which I am about to solicit. By your extensive connexions, no one can have better opportunities of hearing the real state of South America—I mean Bolivar’s country. I have many years had transatlantic projects of settlement, and what I could wish from you would be some information of the best course to pursue, and some letters of recommendation in case I should sail for Angostura. I am told that land is very cheap there; but though I have no great disposable funds to vest in such purchases, yet my income, such as it is, would be sufficient in any country (except England) for all the comforts of life, and for most of its luxuries. The war there is now over, and as I do not go there to speculate, but to settle without any views but those of independence and the enjoyment of the common civil rights, I should presume such an arrival would not be unwelcome.
“All I request of you is, not to discourage nor encourage, but to give me such a statement
as you think prudent and proper. I do not address my other friends upon this subject,
who would only throw obstacles in my way, and bore me to return to England; which I
never will do, unless compelled by some insuperable cause. I have a quantity of
furniture, books, &c. &c. &c. which I could easily ship from Leghorn; but I
wish to ‘look before I leap’ over the Atlantic. Is it true that for a few
thousand dollars a large tract of land may be obtained? I speak
| 602 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1822. |
