Slack Letter 1

January 9, 1845 Letter From Robert N. Slack In Louisville To His Brother James

“…I am becoming very tired of Louisville-The confinement is more than I have been accustomed too” January 9, 1845 Robert N. Slack, Louisville

Dear Brother,

I begin this letter by telling you that it is the second one I have written you since I came here-I wrote to you I believe about the last of November by mail. I do not know whether you received it or not. It may be possible that the letter still remains in the Post Office. If so you need not take it out.

I have nothing particular to communicate to you. We expected to see you here during Christmas but were disappointed-I would like for you to let me know the cause of your not coming-Write me in reply. Tell me when you were at MCK’s and what was going on when you were there.

I am becoming very tired of Louisville-The confinement is more than I have been accustomed too-It seems as if I had been jugged up here for twenty months. When in reality it has only been a little more than thnce.

When I wrote you my health was very much impaionde, I suppose caused principally by my own imprudence. I had some two or three chills after I came here. It has however improved much recently. I therefore feel much better contented than I did at first. Not so well however and ought to be to receive instructions fast. The cause of this discontent is very apparent to me. It always was my intention to become a well qualified physician if when I look forward and in any scaisty resourses for doing so. It invariably casts a gloom over my better feelings. It is a fact that might say that I am now as well qualified as many who go forth imposing themselves upon the world. But this does not satisfy me.

I desire to be superior to many and inferior too but a few. And how this is to be done god in his omniscience only knows for I do not. Such thoughts and feelings as these are very well calculated to retard ones progrefs in something for scientific thruths of my kind-although I am well aware of the ill effects arising therefrom-such glooms are irreversable with me. I could write page upon page on this subject but I think it will be better to discontinue it for the present as my sheet is fast winding to a close–I have stoped to read over what I have written and have a mind not to send it.

But as it is to you [ ] but your criticisms upon my despondency-knowing that they will be confined to your own bosom-I hope by the next time I write to feel in a better mood and give u more lively turn too my letter. I shall be through Bardstown about the 23rd of Feb. on my way home. I want you to make it convenient to go on with me.

I will let you know precisely when I will come that you may be ready. John and any-one will also the children their best respects and well wishes for their prosperity – in life. I now close, hoping you peace and contientment, prosperity and happiness –

Sincerely Your Brother Robert N. Slack

Robert N. Slack was born 1818 in Kentucky. There are letters written from Louisville, Kentucky, Galveston, Texas, Fort Bend County, Texas, Wharton, Texas, Houston, Texas, San Francisco, California and finally from Shasta, California by Robert N. Slack to his brother James Brown Slack which are dated between 1845 and 1852. (Robert S. Riley has the original letters.) Robert N. Slack left Louisville because he was disappointed in love. His last letter from Louisville is rather sad, speaking of not hearing from anyone in his family for a year and concern for whether his “father and Ma” are still living. In the letter from Fort Bend County he speaks of their brother Joseph living near Richmond, Texas, his brother John who was in Bastrop, Texas and his sister Margaret. In Fort Bend County, Texas there is a marriage certificate issued to John Slack and Teresa Lee on October 5, 1870.