the negroes are all keep well. Julian [Julia Ann] had a child the first day of April. It is still living an seams to bee dooing vary well. My 24 Runnaway negroes I have never mist yit though I may not got sober yet an when ever you come down hear an find me drunk then it will [be] right an just to dismiss me right away an I shall not think hard of it at all. As to what liars may say about me I care nothing at all about it but thear is one thing certin. I am the only man that cand be found on any plantation in the 15 district but what has [not] lost negroes. I have been hear five years an three months 17 days an have lost no negroes at all only one mule an I dar say that I have got more meat for the negroes to eat mor corn for the mules an hogs than any man in the county an that is the grand reason why I get drunk.

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