Samuel Hardy to William Short, 14 June 1785

     Your favor of the 29^th, of Jan^y, which is the second only I have received from you since your arrival in Paris came to hand a few days ago. It would have reached me rather earlier; but I have been detained in virginia during the Months of April & May in making some small advances in the line of my profession previous to my leaving Congress. I saw your Brother Peyton & the most of your friends & have the pleasure of informing you they were well.

     As to any great fund of public information you will scarcely expect it from this quarter. We have but little that is worth giving, but even that little it is imprudent to commit to paper but in Cypher:— I have every reason to suspect that your last letter had been opened before I received it. I cannot however forego the pleasure of informing you that I think that our Affairs on this side the Water begin to take a more favorable turn. Public credit is encreasing, & the fœderal Government begins to acquire some small degree of respect. Could we but rescue our Commerce from the restrictions to which it is subjected in several parts of Europe but more particularly in those of Great Britain, the effects would be immense.—

         As to the policy or situation of particular States, removed at the distance you are I presume they hardly come within your view: under this presumption I shall but slightly mention to you two or three subjects which engross the Minds of the Citizens of Virg^a at present.— The Port bill as it is termed, I think had passed before you left America; it is one among several other things that seems to have given birth to a Spirit of Enquiry in the State of Virg^a that I think may be productive of future good. The Bill for instituting Courts^^{of Assize} has also become a subject of almost general discussion;— The laws for opening James & Potomack Rivers I make no doubt but you have heard of; the latter I presume will be began some time this summer.—

         Believe me My dear Sir I shall not be inattentive to the Subject of the Postcript you enclosed. Indeed I had anticipated <…> <…>^{the request it contain'd} very long before it came to hand. The only difficulty that will oppose itself on the first appointment of the kind that is made, will be the Grandson of Doc^r. Fr.-k^ln. & Col^o Humphreys. The Character in which the first of these Gentlemen has long acted, & the one in which the latter was sent to Europe aided by an honorary engagement on the part of Congress to Gen^l. Washington, to make some provision for him, will I expect be considered as giving them the first claim for preferment in that particular line. After this, a road will be opened for you, & be assured I shall^^not let an opportunity of serving you pass, during my continuance in Congress.

         Several of my friends in virg^a enquired how long you would be absent from America & whether I conceived you would return in time to succeed either Monroe or Myself in the appointment we hold at present.— Adieu My dear Sir, I shall write you with as much punctuality as I can: but the Missing of a single opportunity or two you must not attribute either to a diminution of friendship, or a disinclination to correspond— The business of Congress & some Measures which I am taking preparatory to settling myself very much engross me. Once more adieu