I have just received yours of the 12th and hasten to answer it.

With reference to the Florida estate the arrangements for making a crop this year with the negroes, was the only saving one I could make under the circumstances, as to have removed them to Georgia, would have been to thrown away all the corn, meat & other et cetera, besides not having any place for them here.

And my suggestions as to dividing them or farming jointly hereafter with them & the Andrews negroes, was based what I thought the impracticability of selling to advantage in Florida; and I could not bear the idea of bringing them off to Georgia & selling them to be separated from each other.

As Mr. Levy wishes to purchase I am willing to sell the whole establishment. Andrew I know would prefer the money to the negroes. You can tell Mr. Levy for me that he can have them at an average of $350 – three hundred & fifty dollars. The negroes are unusually likely, as he no doubt is aware was the general character of Maj Robinsons negroes. In the lot is a superior Blacksmith – a wheel wright – a shoemaker who understands tanning – a weaver – a plain cook – and a pastry cook. The young negroes are as likely and intelligent as I ever saw. Maj Robinson was attentive to the morals of his negroes, and they bear the reputation of being honest, among all the neighbors. There are thirty six of them in number, at present & the prospect of an accession of one or two more, by birth.

If Mr. Levy is desirous of taking the whole lot at the price named, I will meet him at any time he may designate at Marianna and show him the negroes & conclude the trade. In the meantime he can consult the following citizens of Jackson County Florida, who acted as appraisers at the division of the estate, & are I believe among the leading men of that county as to the character & value of the negroes – viz Col Wm McNealy – J. H. Rowlac Esq. J J Edwards Elijah Bryan – Thomas M. White.

If Mr. Levy wishes to purchase, ask him in designated a time to meet me at Marianna, to name some day antecedent to the month of June, as although an admirer of the balmy atmosphere of Florida, in the winter & spring, I being of a bilious habit & terribly opposed to mosquitoes would dislike a summer visit there.

And let me say in your private ear, if he is not disposed to give 350$ average, do not let the bargain be broken off as I will take something less. But the terms must be cash – have that understood. . . .

With regard to Dr Littles law suit for his doctors bill – you must settle that yourself, the Dr & I are not on terms for amicable settlements. Do not forget to attend to it when you come home Howell. If it is to be arranged, I wish it done. Any arrangement you make with him, I will assume as trustee. I wish to carry out your wishes in this as in other matters, if I had known your wishes before, I would not have treated him so cavalierly. The whole matter looked to me however like a systematic plan to swindle a man who he thought would not take the trouble to examine the correctness of his charges. I treated him accordingly.

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