<​August 1.—​> Tuesday.— I was very sick at home in the morning. At 4 p.m. I rode up to the and [HC 5:523] complained to the Clerks that Mr. Hamilton had got a tax title from the Sheriff on one of my city lots. Mr [Walter] Bagby the collector came up in the midst of our conversation, and when asked about it denied all knowledge of it. I told him that I had always been ready to pay all my taxes when I was called upon, and I did not think it gentlemanly treatment to sell any of my lots for taxes, and I told him that he was continually abusing the citizens here. Bagby called me a liar and picked up a stone to throw at me, which so enraged me that I followed him a few steps and struck him two or three times. Esquire stepped between us and succeeded in separating us. I told the to assess the fine for the assault. and I was willing to pay it; he not doing it I rode down to , stated the circumstances, and he imposed a fine, & which I paid, and then returned to the Political meeting. Bagby staid awhile, muttering threats against me. I went home— commenced to work a little, but soon was very sick.

The visited Alleghany city. , , and preached in the evening.

The is progressing steadily. The walls of that noble edifice continue to rise, and its completion is looked forward to with great interest and anxiety by many.

All kinds of improvements are going on rapidly in and vicinity. Houses are going up in every direction in the , and farms are being enclosed without. “The wilderness will” soon “blossom as the rose.”

Elder writes that he has traveled in the New England States and <​recently​> baptized 20 persons.

Received a private communication from Mr. Branan stating that the writ was returned to the and killed.

and [Joseph] Hoge called at the , when Hoge acknowledged the power of the Mormon .

gave a stump speech at the until dusk, and was immediately replied to by Esquire Hoge for over two hours, having lit candles for the purpose to hear them politically castigate each other. [HC 5:524]

<​2.—​> I was a little easier to day, and rode out to Jacob Baum’s to borrow money. In the evening conversing with Dr. .

A subscription has been got up to build a house for Elder , to which I subscribed a city lot. The Brethren subscribed $25. cash, 10 Cords Stone, 39 Bushels Lime, 105 Days works, $59. in work, 15,900 Bricks, Glass, Lumber and other materials, together with a quantity of produce. I hope the day is not far distant when my will have a comfortable house for his family. [p. 1686]