Dear Norton

I wrote you the 16th July P Capt Miller since which I have never had the happiness of receiving a letter from you the last letter I recd from you was wrote 18th March upwards of six Months since, so good an opportunity offering as Mr Nelson I am really at a loss to account for your silence I do assure you a letter from you wou'd have been a Consolation under the greivous Afflictions we labour under. Capt. Robertson being detained by an unfortunate Accident owing to a violent Gust we have had I cannot omit writing you a few lines to Accompany the papers which will inform you of what is passing here. the communication being stop'd we shall be at a loss to hear what the great Men on your side the water are about I can inform you we have as vile a Character existing with us as it is possible to describe except his bosom friend the All[mighty] G[eorge] You will readily conclude it to be Ld D[unmore] I mean, he tried every Stratagem to get his Amiable Lady away, pointed to her danger, while she was in the utmost security with a people who admited her Virtues & pitied her Connexion with a Man who has not one good quality to recommend him, he tried persuasion with her & found it disagreeable to her Ladyship to leave him & at last almost forced her & his family to go in a small Schooner that was so leaky while in this River that they cou'd hardly keep her above water & I fear will never reach England² after her departure he went to Norfolk & there seas'd a large West India Ship & had her commodiously fitted up, the Atty the Tool to his Vices was all this while framing excuses to leave Williamsbg at length he advertized he shou'd leave the Colony & took his family about a fortnight since onboard his Ld Ship where I wou'd wish to drop the Curtain over this Scene of wickedness, evile as it may appear to you I do assure you it is too true. if you shou'd have any opportunity I shou'd be glad to hear from you, pray present Mrs Reynolds's & my respectfull complemts to your Mamah. We sincerely wish you all the happiness possible & if those unhappy differences shou'd continued so as to prevent any further Correspondence, be assured I shall ever retain the warmest regard for you & your Connexions. I am [&c.]