Dear Sir

The inclosed Letter I wrote in North hampton, but not chusing to forward it from thence brought It over with me here ー before this gets to you, you will have heard of the destruction of Norfolk, friday was a week Lord Dunmore had given Notice to the few Inhabitants that remained in It to remove themselves, for he intended firing It in a few Days accordingly on Monday last about four in the afternoon the horrid Scene was begun by Men from the Ships, principally Negros I understand with lighted Torches, who began at my Stores on the Town point wharf at the North extremity of the Town, from thence they proceeded to the middle, and then to the south East parts, so that the Town was fired in a manner in three different parts at once, there was a considerable value of Jahs & my own property in my Stores upwards of Twenty Tons of hemp I think for one article, by an express from Colo [William] Woodford which arrivd last Night to the Committee of Safety the fire was still raging on Thursday when about Nine Tenths of the Town was in Ashes, before the express had set off his Lordship It seems had given notice to the Inhabitants of Portsmouth to remove out of Town, as he intended to fire It next, and then York Town No pen can describe to you the horrid situation the Inhabitants of Norfolk are drove to, the Country about there was miserably poor at best, the Army lately sent there has drain'd It of any provisions or necessaries the Inhabitants had, so that now these poor Wretches who have been fired from their houses (many of them as genteel people as any in the Colony) must absolutely perish for the mere want of Covering and Victuals, the distress of this Country has now nearly ruined me, but beleive me I look on myself in a happy situation compared with that of most of my Townsmen, for with all their desasters their late Conduct has erected such prejudices against Them in the up Country, that I fear they will meet with little of that humanity which I know the Virginians are so susceptible of in most cases ー I can hear nothing yet particular about Bahannon further than that Lord Dunmore first seised his Vessel, and that Capt Montague [James Montagu] afterwards wrested her from his Lordship and claims Vessel and Cargo as his, both my Clerks which I left in Norfolk are aboard of the Vessels belonging to the Govenor, one of Them went voluntarily, and the other a prisoner I understand, I have applyd to the Comittee of Safety and they have given me an order to the Commander in Chief of our forces at Norfolk to permit me having an Interview with Them which I shall endeavour in a few days, my books I have got on the Eastern Shore and most of my papers, but some of the most Valuable I am fearful are in the hands of one of my Clerks ー you may imagine the situation of my affairs must give me great uneasiness, but beleive me its little compared to what I feel for my Wifes Unhappy Relations, the Unhappy part they have taken has entirely ruined Them, her Father with one of her Uncles are now prisoners on the Eastern Shore, and their Wifes and Children with Them, the Men will be sent for here in a little Time to take their Tryalls, Mr A I hope will clear himself, but the other I tremble for, tho a better man never drew the breath of Life, a misconception of the present Dispute has been his Ruin, they are all at present with Mrs Parker and her, Children under mine and Mr Ronalds roof[s] and with great difficulty the Committee of Northampton with Mr Ronalds and myself prevented the [illegible] people there destroying even the Women & Children by firing the Roofs they were under ー I beg you woud let Capt Long know the situation of his affairs here, I expect to be on this Shore best part of the Winter shoud you write to me direct to the Care of Mr [Robert Carter] Nicholas the Treasurer and be pleased to keep the Contents of this Letter to yourself I beg My Complements to Mrs Morris and am &c