📜 PAGE 1 (Brownsville, March 9, 1859)
🇬🇧 English (partial transcription & translation)
Header
Brownsville March 9, 1859
Sir H. Phelps Esq.
New York
Body (legible portions)
Your two favors of the 21st & 24th February, with bills of sundry charges, etc., all were duly received and examined accordingly.
I would attend to your wishes with pleasure, as I desire to dispose of your [goods/wares?] that business.
I much regret the error about the 20 bales. I closed and sent the letter to England, supposing you had [instructions?].
The delay via Black Warrior is a bad piece of news. I am fully insured but would have much anxiety on this shipment…
As your agent against your claim I was prevented from taking [steps?]…
I see that you have shipped iron and steel for [destination?].
I calculate left about the 1st instant enclosing the [forwarder’s?] letter. He had no instructions to expect your orders.
I wrote to him on the subject…
I would allow to purchase provisions and some clothing for the troops and give him the privilege to export [goods?]…
(Last lines too faint)
🧭 Historical interpretation (Page 1)
This letter shows:
1) Cross-Atlantic commercial trade
Stillman is coordinating shipments between Texas, New York, and England — typical of Rio Grande merchants who acted as middlemen in global trade.
2) Freight & insurance concerns
Mentions of delay, insured shipments, and anxiety over cargo reflect the risks of Gulf/river shipping.
3) Possible military provisioning
References to provisions and clothing for “troops” suggest supply contracts — common along the border where U.S. military presence was strong in the 1850s.
4) Agency relationships
Stillman acts as agent handling claims and logistics for eastern partners.
Overall: this is a classic Rio Grande merchant letter blending finance, freight, and diplomacy.
📜 PAGE 2
🇬🇧 English (partial transcription & translation)
Body (legible portions)
Suppose you ship the 20 boxes to the [vessel?]…
Your instructions are to deliver the [consignee?]…
I wrote you by this steamer a week ago…
[Mentions of coffee, plate/metal goods?]
If you send by the next trip you need not insure them. I see that freight has been cheap…
Send me one or two [bales/boxes?] by this time also…
[Reference to vessel going to Boston]
Referring you to invoices of the 3rd…
I remain
Yours trulyChas. Stillman
🧭 Historical interpretation (Page 2)
This page reinforces several themes:
1) Gulf Coast shipping networks
Regular steamer service between Brownsville, New Orleans, and eastern ports is implied.
2) Commodity trade
Coffee and metal goods were common Rio Grande imports.
3) Freight price awareness
Stillman tracks freight costs closely — a sign of a sophisticated merchant network.
4) Businesslike tone
The letter is purely commercial — no politics, no personal matters — showing Stillman as a pragmatic operator.
🇪🇸 Spanish Translation (from the readable English)
Página 1 — Español
Brownsville, 9 de marzo de 1859
Sus dos cartas del 21 y 24 de febrero, con cuentas de varios cargos, fueron recibidas y revisadas.
Atenderé sus deseos con gusto, pues deseo disponer de sus mercancías.
Lamento mucho el error sobre las 20 balas. Cerré y envié la carta a Inglaterra suponiendo que usted tenía instrucciones.
La demora vía Black Warrior es una mala noticia. Estoy totalmente asegurado pero tengo preocupación por el embarque.
Como su agente en su reclamación fui impedido de tomar medidas…
Veo que ha enviado hierro y acero…
Calculé salir alrededor del día primero adjuntando la carta del remitente…
Permitiría comprar provisiones y ropa para las tropas y darle privilegio de exportación…
🧭 Interpretación histórica
La carta muestra:
-
Comercio internacional entre Texas, Nueva York e Inglaterra
-
Preocupación por seguros y retrasos marítimos
-
Posibles contratos de suministro militar
-
El papel de Stillman como agente comercial fronterizo
Página 2 — Español
Supongo que enviará las 20 cajas en el buque…
Sus instrucciones son entregar al consignatario…
Le escribí por este vapor hace una semana…
Si envía en el próximo viaje no necesita asegurar…
El flete ha sido barato…
Envíeme uno o dos bultos también…
Referencia a un buque a Boston…
Me remito a las facturas del día 3…
Suyo atentamente,
Chas. Stillman
🧭 Interpretación histórica
Confirma:
-
Rutas comerciales regulares del Golfo
-
Comercio de café y metales
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Atención a costos de flete
-
Correspondencia puramente comercial
🔎 Honest Assessment
Because of scan quality, this is about 50–60% recoverable text. For archival or publication use, a higher-contrast scan would be ideal.
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