William Short to Peyton Short, 27 September 1784

On the Road to this Place meeting well ith m^r Twining who was going to Cabin Point to make some Regulations about his Stages, I gave him a Line for you merely to let you know where I was— Since my Arrival here I have postponed writing to you until I should have determined what Vessel I was to sail in. After a View of all Circumstances & by Advice of the Gentleman here I have taken the Design of going in the British Packet which leaves New York for Falmouth on the 7^th. of next Month— I came to this Determination not before Yesterday: Today a Gentleman of this City writes to engage a Passage for me— THe thinks there is no Danger of all the Places being previously taken so that you may <...>^count  with a Kind of Certainty on my going in that Vessel— I shall have an agreeable Passage as to Socieoty; having been already made acquainted with the Secretary of the Dutch Legation here who has already engaged his Passage in the Packet for England— Besides him there is a Gentleman of this Ci<...>ty with who dines to-morrow at the same Table to which I am invited, where I shall become acquainted with him, that is going & carries his Niece who is said to be an agreeable & sensible Woman— I saw Yesterday also Mr Laurens our late Embassador who came over in the last Packet. He assures me they have the least & safest Accomodations in the World.— He promises also to give me a great Deal of Information of the Mode of travelling in Europe, the Want of w^ch. frequently exposes Strangers to great Inconvenience.

I shall inclose this Letter to Col^oHarvie in Richmond, who will either send it to you, or give it to you when you meet at Maj^r Wall's.

I have to repeat to you my Importunities not to let the money which you are to receive for my Negroes etc. lye by you at all— Instead of the Swamp of w^ch. we were speaking I would wish you to take a Trip to Norfolk & invest the Money immediately in Lots there— Those near the Water sell high & therefore I would not chuse to have them— Purchase Lots which are unimproved & which lye at some Distance from where the Buildings are at present, but in such a Direction that the Town as it encreases must extend to them— There is a Man whom I saw In Alexandria & who by laying out £500 or £1000, I dont recollect which, in this Way, has made his Fortune— It only requires a little Judgment to observe the Situations, but I believe in Norfolk every Situation will be good— Make the best Purchase You can, but make any Purchase rather than none— Advise with some Friend or other about the Prices of Lots— & if you cannot get them all together, buy them separately or any Way you please— Write to me as soon as possible &  I sent ^enclose it to some of my Friends in Congress— who will forward me your Letter — M^r Alexander at Richmond will also be a good Hand— Let me know what you have done with Eliza's Negroes — Give my tenderest Love to our dear Sisters^^{& majr Edmonds}, & believe me with the purest Friendship

Your affectionate Brother