1861 April 18 Mehinin

Mr.Philip St Geo Cocke

Dear Sir

You are mistaken
in regard to the Inventories sent on last return
being taken from the Books. When the Books were
sent on blank, or printed quarterly Inventories
were sent for each place to last ten years they were
made to agree with those in the books I supposed
it was by your direction & thought one ought to be
forwarded very quarter so as to correspond
with the quarterly Inventories kept on each place.

I have made the engagement
for the Petersburg Manipulated Guano & a portion has
been brought home. I recd a letter from Crenshaw
agent the other day saying in answer to a letter
from me that he would forward to Petersburg
20 tons "Ruffin" Phospho Peruvian. I had to write
him immediately that you had changed your
notion. I hope he received my letter before the
Guano was forwarded from Richmond.

We have had a great deal

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rain which has thrown the corn planting back
considerably I expected to begin the 8th but did
not commence until the 18th & then had to stop
the next day on acct rain I have just resumed
to day with a large force & should the weather con-
tinue fair will be able to get through in good
time. Our citizens are all excitement greatly
excited at the late news from Charleston & I
may add, that from Washington also. I hope those
late events will put some fire in our old
fogies in the Convention at Richmond &
cause them to go out from our vile abolition
neighbors of the North I have never seen any
thing like the present excitement in my short
history I feel so indignant & excited at times
that I can scarcely keep my business matters
straight. I hope you will excuse this badly written
& more dictated letter I cannot compose my
strength sufficiently to write Hope to see you
Respectfully
J.B. Taylor