Balt. Md. Sept. 18 1836

Dear Father I again address you about my own affairs,
supposing that you have received the letter which I mailed a few
days since on this subject. Since that time my mind has
been directed to a different subject from what I then had in
view. I then thought then only of retirement, but it is unnecessary
for me to say more about the design I then had. Suffice it
to say I have found an opening for myself in this city that
can not fail in affording me employment & freedom from intense
study while it will forward all my personal interests. The Pioneer
& Liberalist has two thousand good subscribers at $2.00 per annum
with the best office in the city. It is fast increasing in popularity
and subscription. It is the best paper in our order. Br. Everett
has been offered $1700 for one half by one who was acquainted
with the business. But he was at that time well & would
not part with it. He is now sick & has been so far three months
and is unable to take the whole care of it. He now offers one
half of the office paper and establishment to me for one thou-
sand dollars. Another young preacher here is willing to take
it at his offer, but he says he is not capable in editing it. I am
confident (for I have good advice) it is one of the best sit-
uations I could possibly find. I can pay the whole sum in
three years, in which time the paper will be worth a third
more than it now is. I have looked into all its concerns and know
everything about it. It is a very profitable business & will pay
my expenses this year and three hundred dollars on the
capital. I shall mainly be obliged to write for it, look over the
proof sheet & see that the paper is well got out. Br. Everett will
continue to devote all his spare time to it also. Besides I shall
be enabled to preach as often as I please about the country.
Br Everett wants me to pay only one half in advance, and says
he will wait for the rest until I can clear it from the paper.

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I have made my calculations as to pay three hundred
dollars this year, which I am sure of doing. In six months
from that time I can pay two hundred more, when I shall be
clear of Br. Everett if you will loan me $500 dollars to commence the
payment. In fact if you can lend me $500 to pay it first your money
shall be paid back it you in less than three years time; when
I shall have property to the amount of $1,200 at least, free from
encumbrance. The advantage of this you see at once. I shall be
in an important situation and become known from Canada to
Louisiana, which cannot fail of greatly benefitting me in after
life. I ask you not to give me five hundred dollars although
that would not be doing so much for me as you have done
for Charles. But I ask you to lend it to me while I shall
have property at command to sell at any time & repay you if
it is necessary. You have money & I should be doing as well
with it as you could possibly do yourself. I should be besides
constantly improving in health, in knowledge & in wealth.
Consequently I know you will send it as soon as possible. If you have
it not at hand, borrow it. For it is absolutely necessary for my prosperity.
I have no wish to be rich, but you are constantly pressing it on my
attention. Now I have a chance of being worth twenty five hundred dollars
by the time I am twenty- five years old, and of improv-
ing in my profession at this same time. It is but for you to lend me five
hundred dollars, which I will pay you with good interest and
you will see me rich. you shall see me as wary as a merchant
and as close as a miser. I am no spendthrift. My happiness is not
the happiness of the world. I am becoming daily less proud of fine
dress, of fine board, of fine people. I know that I am as good
if not as in my outward appearance. Now Father everything
depends on you, for I am determined to be the first in my profession,
and if you wish me to be so in worldly respectably, you cannot
hesitate. In fact I have no other way to turn. There is no other
place for me but this, where I can have my health & advance myself.
If I cannot take up with this I cannot tell but that I shall be
obliged to leave my profession or be supported by you. For I

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know it is impossible for me to settle down as a constant
minister where I should have to study constantly. I have said
enough. I shall this day, make an argument with Br. Everett lest any
other one might get the situation before me; for there are many
who would jump at the offer. I know he would not take one
cent less than that sum, and I shall get it on those terms more
for friendship's sake than anything else. However I look well
to my own interest. You will have to send the money by Drafts
on Balt. or Washington Banks. This will be perfectly safe.
The whole of the $500 dollars must be paid within two month of this
time. The sooner the better. I apply to you for this sum
not because I have no other friends from whom I could get
it, but because I think you would be ready and willing to confer
such a great favor on me - a favor which will have its influence
through life besides building me up immediately. I should
be able to get Warren into a first rate school in the City by
my influence or advance him in any other way through the exterior acquain-
tance I should form. In fact the advantages of the situation
are too many to be recorded in one letter. I could have access
to the first Libraries, to lectures on various subjects, and in fine
should have an acquaintance & an influence which years in
another employment could not obtain. Baltimore is becoming the
first city in the Union. It has all the advantages of New York
& is rapidly improving. It is only two hours ride to Wash.
I have talked with those who are acquainted with such things
& are disinterested who assure me that my bargain will
be one the best things that could have happened to me. I proceed
cautiously & surely and am certain of the result -have taken all
the probable losses into consideration, and have made myself thoroughly
acquainted with the whole concern. So you need not fear that
I shall proceed with utmost prudence & success. Br. Everett
is a man of experience & judgment. He has treated me with kindly
ever since I have been here, and he says if my expectations are not
realized so as clear my establishment & pay all my necessary expenses
in less than three years he will forfeit it. Send me the money as soon
as possible & you will have the lasting gratitude of your affectionate son.
John Parsons

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I want this answered as soon as you receive
it, as it is of the utmost importance to my
welfare. You cannot think how much my future
life depends upon it; yea, even the honor of the family.
John Parsons