Yours of the 7:th of April and 28:th of May
came Safe, giving me proofs beyond a pretence
of your kindness to Virginia in General, and of
your friendship to me in particular, though they
are not the first of both sorts that have resulted
from you, you have lived too long not to be
acquainted with the unruliness of the Voice of
the People. I have formerly told you I would
have had it otherwise, though am almost glad
your hand was not in it, Seeing We met with
no better Success; and believing there was such
a Current the other way that 'twas very nigh
impossible to stem the Tide with the Strong=
est arm; But as bad as it is can hardly think
itworse than We deserve, And believe you
will be of my Opinion when you come to
Our Assembly which had the Strength to
out live Death was forced to give up the ghost
atthe Six months End. We have a New one
to meet on the 17th Instant. Few Elections
over yet. Gloucester has been Steady in their
former Choice in their
unexampled management in the House before
will, nodoubt, prefer him to the same Station
there also, And then no doubt all things will go
on well under the Conduct of so experienced a
Leader.
The Country is highly indebted to
Mr Perry
for his Warmness in our affairs, And
I believe hewill hardly miss of thanks from most
of those who have any business with him;
And if the Brainsof our Patriots are not quite
brutified, We Shall look for no other person to
Countenance ourAffaires, unless we were So wise
to joyn you with him. It is a Strange fate
that We are under,that everything that is said
against us Should be of such mighty weight,
and what We Say OurSelves, though ever So true &
convincing, Should all be but Dross & uncurrent
Mettle
To be kept from Our homes and Our Business,
to be hired out week after week, without almost
the pretense of anything to do, And the Burgesses
to go to play almost every day before ourgreat
Edifice, on purpose to be taken notice of; I say
that these things Should be hardships Weare
forced to endure here And yet that these things
elsewhere Shold be chargeable upon us as
Crimes; That four of the upper House Should
be forced to undergo all the business, No
more enduring to abide the Healot, the fatigues,
the Indignities, I say that these should be our
Crimes too, What may we expect will pass
for reason on our Side, or what have We
to do,but to lay our hands a cross and never
let our Tongues express our complaints any
more
I am very much obliged to you for
your Zeal in the Affair of the Northern
Neck
; not out of the mighty Love I have for
the Place, which carrys a great deal oftrouble
and uneasiness along with it, more I doubt
than the Profit will recompense, but for
your earnest and unwearied Solicitations
in my favour.
If I take the thing right, Mr Perry is to
manage for the Proprietors, And accordingly
I haveentertained him with the Steps I have
taken.
The Power I had was not only as short in
form but in Proof too, as I have noted both
tomy Lord
and Mr Perry, and have Sent
to the latter Copies of the Power F[it]zHugh
had to
be executed beyondexception.
I have
tired you enough for once, yet Shall tres=
pass upon you again very Suddenly, Will
therefore conclude at this time only with
taking leave to subscribe my Self what
in truth Iam