William Nelson to William Short, 16 October 1785

          I cannot express what I felt at the sight of a paragraph in your last letter to B. H.— You decline to write, as you received no letters by the Marquis of Fr. Beleive me I mentioned a desire to that amiable <...>and respected Nobleman of troubling him with a letter— He made scarcely any answer, because I beleive his mind was occupied at that moment by some other objects— I then applied to Capt. Crenshaw, a travelling <...>companion of the Marquis, who politely agreed to take my letter; but he was unfortunately called away from this place to Mount-vVernon, and thence to France by some sudden dispatches.— I assure you, my dear Short, this ^is my eighth or ninth letter within a twelve month, and I have sent them by every channel. Some have been sent under cover to our friend Monroe, one was given to BH, one to M^r. Latill a clerk of Debeaumarchais, who promised to deliver it himself, one to Mazzei, and in August last I delivered one to M^r. Oster, who promised <...>to send it with a packet of Newspapers— M^r. DelaCroix who has lived in W^msburg for some years, gave me his word he would present them to you personally— That, which M^r Latill took charge of, was sent under cover to M^r. Beaumarchais, and Monroe had one at least of the number sent by post put into the sure channel. TUnder your suspicion of neglect I console myself with the hope that some of these letters must certainly by this time have arrived, and shewn the injustice of the accusation— Still my feelings have been much hurt by it.—

          I am very happy in so certain a conveyance, as our friend Littlepage, who will deliver you this— I am sure you will recollect him, and you know hims ^^worth too well to require any recommendation of him from me.

          My letters have given you an account of ^^{the occurrencies in} this part of the world since your departure. Today a number of members, insufficient to make an house, met and adjourned— It is thought there will be a competition for the chair between the late speaker, the late governor and M^r. Braxton.— They will ^^have objects of great importance ^^{before them}— such as the perfection of: the assize-law, the assessment, and the issuing paper-money.— The second of these subjects will certainly be rejected,: but the others two, I believe, will take effect.— Be assured I will give you the earliest information of a change in the military fund.— At present there seems some danger of an attempt being made to stop the interest,— but not by coercive measures— such as a compulsory tender-law. A purchase from the holders seems more likely— If enough sh^d. be issued to sink the interest, the quantity alone will damn it, and to sink the interest of theis debt is the only important object that can be effected by it.— I believe some paper-money will be struck, but not a sgreat quantity.—

          I mentioned in a former letter the association in Kentucky for a seperate-government, and their objection to nonresidents holding lands there— I saw your brother a few months ago on his way thither— He will, no doubt secure your interest in that country— The last assembly laid an additional tax of 5/⅌ hundred acres on their patents, which may have hastened this change.— I really feel for your interest in the Eastward— There is at least one location prior to M^r. Harveysveys on the land, which you purchased of him in Norfolk-County,— and that Gentleman, I understand, does not think himself obliged to warrant his purchase to you.— M^r. Andrews is my author as to this information, and, I think it important ^{my duty to} communicate it.

          As for myself, I have resigned my seat in council and returned to the bar— M^r. Dandridge’s death lately made a vacancy ^^{on the bench,} which is supplied by M^r. Tazewell, and I have taken undertaken to finish his business. This, I hope, will be good introduction—

          My place of residence is changed with my plan, and I again inhabit the peaceful city of W^msburg.– A peaceful city in Europe might be a Paradox. In Virginia it is not..

          Littlepage is to start tomorrow and I must close my letter.

Adieu!

Y^rs ever sincerely