24 March 1854
Fri. 24. Pleasant though rather cool—Packed up and, with my wife, took passage on the steamer J. Strader for Louisville where I go to play six nights—H Chapman & lady also go down. The business has been very poorly in Louisville—as it always is without a "Star", and so Bates sends us there, to not because he thinks we will draw anything, but there is a benefit due to each Chapman and myself, and on the nights of those benefits there is certain to be much more in the house than on the stock-company could play to—so that our going there must benefit Bates a little—but whether we are benefitted or not is immaterial to him. By this course he lays the flattering unction to his soul (has he such a thing—doubtful) that he fulfils his contract—to the letter—and so he does to the letter but not to the spirit, nor in the manner contemplated by one of the contracting parties—my benefit was due two weeks ago, instead of giving it to me then, in and in Cincinnatti where the any kind of stock attraction would draw $300 per night, he waits for an oppertunity best suited to his own interests and then posts me off to take a benefit in a place where, by great exertion, I may be fortunate enough to realize a $5,00 bill—lucky if I dont lose that much—whereas, at Cincinnatti , I could have cleared a $100. The man Who keeps to the letter of his contract may pass for be called an honorable man, but, according to my ideas of right and wrong—that man who in making a contract, misleads the person with whom he contracts as to its intent, and so, taking advantage of a quibble, commits an injury, is, de-facto , no less a scoundrel than the man who is a professed cheat—Deceit is the worst foe a man can contend
