Dear Norton
My last was the 20th April P Capt McCunn since wch I am favour'd with your two letters of 17th Jany and 18th March the last P Capt Robertson, who went up Rappahanock yesterday. I observe what you say relative to that unhappy Circumstance of the Tea, believe me my friend that matter has not given me a little Concern & sorry I was to observe some other disagreeable Resolves lately published from Gloster owing to your Fathers letter of Justification not being published the first week after the Arrival of the Virginia, which I understand your Brother was persuaded from doing. I heartily agree with you that Prentis was the Person who ought to have suffer'd severely for his neglect in not countermanding that order. I was one of the Committee on the Arrival of that Ship, and exerted my utmost Endeavours, making use of every Argument to excuse yr Fathers Conduct, which was construed partiallity & I was accordingly left out at the next Choice of Committee Men, a matter of little moment to me I can assure you, for I never wish to fill a place where I cannot speak my sentiments without Censure. I meant the Resolves previous to those in August, which you say you never read, there I cannot altogether acquit you, as you must have been remiss in not noticing them. I am sensible the obtaining leave of the Commissioners to reland the Tea when the Ship was at Gravesend, woud have been attended with a good deal of trouble & Expence, but as things have turned out I do sincerely wish it had been done, I never thought your Father had any other design in shipping the Tea but to comply strictly with the order of his Correspondent, who behaved ungenerously in involving your house in a difficulty he might so easily have prevented. You say your friends did not treat you well in not writing you sooner the unhappy fate of that Ship. I fully expected your Brother wou'd have wrote your Father particularly or I undoubtedly shou'd have done it. believe he was at the time unwell & under a good deal of concern, beside the determination on the Ship was for sometime in suspence. I am fully persuaded, indeed am convinced if your Brother & Mr Prentis on their first hearing of the Arrival of the Tea, had appeard active in destroying it, the People wou'd have look'd over it and the Tea Ship been allowed to load. I am warmly attached to your Brother, & from the many obligations I am under to your Father & Mother. Gratitude & the sincere regard I have for the Interest of your house wou'd tempt me to go any lengths to serve you, but I am really sorry to be obliged to say your Brothers Conduct is not so pleasing to the People in general as I cou'd wish to be sure he has a most difficult part to act a Man situated as he is to collect money and at the same time solicit Consignments must be posses'd of a great deal of patience & moderation not sometimes by an unguarded Expression to disoblige, for you must well know the family Connections in this Colony are so numerous, that if a person offends one they dont know where it may stop. I am sorry to find by your letter & the late papers that matters are not likely to be accomodated our Assembly are to meet the 1st day of next Month but suppose will be soon dissolved as I apprehend the Governor has nothing agreeable to propose he has made himself exceedingly disagreeable to the People by his late behaviour in regard to the powder & his letters wrqte home, it is said he has wrote to General [Thomas] Gage for a Regiment to guard him and if they shou'd come, God knows what will be the consequence for I am satisfied if they are quarter'd on the Inhabitants of this Town or Williamsburg it will inflame the minds of the People so sufficiently, that I dread the thought of what may happen, the rifle Men in the upper Counties are prepared to assist us at the shortest Notice O that the wicked cursed Ministry wou'd but relent, ere it be too late and save a number of poor innocent People who must unhappily fall Victims to the designs of a few Men who are a disgrace to human nature. I shall endeavour to give Esten & Robertson all the Assistance in my power tho' am really fearfull Tobo will not answer at the high price it is now selling at. In your last you dont mention a word about Tobacco. I wrote your J.N.& Co 16th past by this same opportunity expecting the Ship wou'd sail sooner as this goes by the way of Glasgow I can't send you the papers, Mrs. Reynolds & myself are exceedingly obliged to you for your kind wishes towards us, how long we may live to enjoy them from the present complexion of Affairs is very uncertain, pray present our respects to your Mother &ca. & be assured that I remain unalterably Yours [&c.]
[P.S.] pray remember me to Mr Withers, I am obliged to you for the News paper, but you made a mistake instead of inclosing the Fishery bill you send me the Merchts Petition. Mr Cary lives at New Castle at present where he keeps a Store in which your Brother & myself are equally concerned.
