Mr Grant came over last Saturday . . . from Augusta, and stopped with us, for a night. He informed me that a gentleman by the name of Henderson of Newton Co. was enquiring of him, where he could hire carpenters. M. G told him of Gilbert, and he will take him and give a good price. He hires Mr Grants two men Mitchell & Robert and gives him $500.00 for the two. And Mr Grant thinks he will give you $250.00 or 300.00 for Gilbert. Old Henderson has extensive merchant mills in Newton Co and all the work is in the house, and Mr Grant says if Gilbert is made to do any work out door, . . . it will be none to hurt him as any other man.

You know it was my desire to keep Gilbert at home to fix the fences, and do all necessary carpenter’s work for the coming year, and when we had no employment for him to hire him by the month. But he will come very unwillingly and as he is naturally self willed & spoilt, I rather think he will give us trouble, and only work, when it chooses him. Though I am willing to give up my project, and release him for the prospective $300, which will enable us to hire a hand to do the work Gilbert would do. Mr Grant says the man is good for the pay. Please write me immediately what you wish done. If you approve of the plan, I will write to Mr Grant to give him for the highest sum he can get, with the condition that he shall do no out door work which will endanger his sound eye. Write soon. We had best leave it to Mr Grant, and get him to hire Gilbert and take a note just as if he belonged to him, as he is accustomed to dealing with men in such matters.

I received a letter from brother John on Saturday. He will be here to day, and bring with him a carriage driver for us Burton, a son of Clarissa, Old Jenny’s grandson, and also Grandson to Old Charles Walker & Seny, brother John’s right hand man & woman – Good stock on both sides for work etc. He is 16 or 17 yrs of age, and brother John represents him as being very steady, but has warned him if the takes the disease called the “Big head” on coming to town, he will walk back to the plantation.

From a remark Bob made to the boys when they told him that Burton would drive the carriage, I think he has no idea of returning to his old home. I shall however feel bound to tell Tom when we have no use for Bob, as he kindly sent him to me in my need, with the assertion that I ought keep him as long as I needed him.

I must do this, tho as far as I am concerned Bob is welcome to remain as long as suits him. The additional Expense that he will be to you in clothes or food will be small, when we remember that he has always been a favored servant. What shall I say to him & Tom in the premises.

I have given him a new overcoat, as you requested, with which he seems much pleased. He has also the suit of clothes he was to get at Bloomfield’s. I have furnished him with flannel, and now all that is wanting are shoes & hat, which I had almost forgotten. The old man came cheerfully to his duties upon our lot and has done them so faithfully, that I can give him these necessaries of life cheerfully, as a boon.

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Source: Howell Cobb Family Papers (MS 1376), Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.