Sir!
As 5000 Troops are orderd to sail from Ireland in 8 or 10 daies for Virga & North Carolina & Genl Clinton is orderd by an express sent from hence 6 daies ago to go from Boston to Virga to take the command of these Troops, I apprehend much injury to my own private Estate now under your management, therefore request you will instantly on receipt of this go to either of my Brothers Richd Henry or Frances Lightfoot if they are in the way or to Richd Lee Esqr of Lee hall & the Honble Colo Taylor & consult with them on the following plan if it can be put in Execution, which is, to remove all the Negroes immediately to some part in the back Country, except those who are too old or too young to travel, The very young ones may be left in the care of the old ones. The Stocks &c shoud be also removed and all the Provisions, as far as you can, in the Country remote from the water side ー I suppose you will at first day, where can the people be removed to ー you must have seen an advertisement in the Virga papers, from the County of Buckingham wherein they offer an asylum and lands to work for any of the people in the lower Counties and I suppose the people in Hanover & Amelia will chearfully do the same if you apply to Colo [Patrick] Henry or the Council of Safety ー It is impossible for me at this distance to form so proper a judgment of what ought or can be done, in this alarming state of Affairs, as you and the Gentlemen I have already mentioned can do, because you are on the spot ー but I rely on your ability diligence firmness and Integrity to do every thing that is possible to be done, for preserving any Estate free from any kind of Injury. I am [&c.]
NB It may not be improper to make the Treasurer acquainted with the above as soon as this comes to hand ー 2
