Again: my heart is pained with the woes of my fellows--with the
distressing poverty and excessive labor which are bearing to the grave
a portion of the human family. Gladly would I bear my part in raising
them to a higher and happier condition; and how can I better do this
than by uniting myself with the noble reformers of Brook Farm, where
caste is thrown aside, and rich and poor constitute one family. I have
not a large fortune, but sufficient to live comfortable anywhere. A
large part of it is now invested in houses and lands in Georgia. Such
is the low price of cotton that real estate cannot be sold at this time
without a serious sacrifice. Most of my Georgia property rents for more
than the interest of its cost at 8 per cent. I have also houses and
land in this state, but cannot for the above named reason find a
purchaser. Therefore, if I go into Association I shall be obliged to
leave some of my possessions unsold, and be content to receive the rent
until I can effect a sale.
I have no negroes--thank God. Now if you are not full at Brook Farm,
and do not object to myself, wife and two daughters, one four years and
the other six months old, presenting ourselves as candidates for
admission, and $2500 or $3000 will be sufficient for an initiation fee,
I shall, as soon as I can arrange my affairs, be with you.
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