William Nelson to William Short, 13 May 1785

Ere this I hope you are convinced, that your mortification at not receiving letters from your friends, does not at all proceed from my neglect— This / is the fourth that I have written, and all of them were put into such channels, as almost to ensure safety of conveyance. In one of them I have given you a very particular acc^t of the numerous marriages, w^ch has taken place here this winter, which notwithstanding sore throats, peripneumonas, and pains in the eye, will prevent our population at least from decreasing. I am extremely axious to hear ^^receive the acknowledgement of some of them, as every moment passes tediously, whilst my friend suspects me of want of attention to him,— and that too in his absence.— In your letter to BR you seem willing to attribute it to miscarriage, &, unless by this time you have heard from me, your conjecture on the subject is perfectly right.

          The source to which you attribute the preference of travellers for foreign-countries, is in many instances the just one,— tho’ their ignorance of the advantages of their own country, is no doubt another cause of it— The advantages of America are or at least of Virginia,— are such as do not strike the senses forcibly,— they can be known only to the contemplative mind.— Those who are sent abroad for their education leave their native country so early that they are insensible of the distinctions of Government— Perfect equality and liberty cannot ^^scarcely be understood by a child— but the pomp and ostentation of a monarchy and improvements in the arts of luxury cannot pass unnoticed by him. Besides, the fact is that we did enjoy few or no political advantages before the revolution:— and nothing was thought worth ^^being speaking or thanking of ^^valued by a dutiful and loyal subject, but what came from home and the mother country.— One who had been flog’d only halfway thro’ Eton or Westminster would arrogate the character of <...> ^^superior wisdom, H<...> ^{and be} more than respected, than any man of real genius and observation, who had passed his life remote from the infectious company of lords and nobles in the serious acquisition of solid knowledge. I should be ashamed of the long sentimental digression made on this subject, if I were not writing to you and did not know that.

          Perhaps your attachment to this country may be accounted for on similar terms ^grounds—— You have left it since the revolution, and were sensible of it’s advantages, before you went—

          I have seen the condemnation of the Mesmerian doctine, and admire the method of the report and the fairness of the experiments.— Surely nothing can be more conclusive.— Is it not astonishing that men of so little credulity in other affairs should be so captivated,— particularly on ^^by what ought to depend on experiment, as some who have patronized this fanciful theory?—

          I will avail myself of the first private opportunity to send the newspapers.— I spoke to BH about the bill for your ^the copying press, as well as your private affairs, & he promised to do every thing requisate— I will repeat the hint.—

          As to myself,— my plan of life is changed. M^r. Dandridge died lately, and M^r Tazewell succeeds him— He has offered me his docket, and in a few days I shall resign my seat in council— In my situation, I think nothing need be said in justification of this plan. Indeed my friends here had settled the scheme for me in their own minds before I left W^msburg, and on my arrival they mentioned it to me, before I h<...>ted <...> ^{had even} seen M^r. Tazewell.— This circumstance occasions so considerable a vacancy in the lower part of the country, that my permanent residence will be in W^msbg.

          Early in Jan^y I wrote to you by M^r L’atil, who had been here in some business of Beaumarchais— Thisat Gentleman, not going to France so soon as he intended, sent it t o the care of M^r. Beaumarchais in Feb^y— so that you ^^must have certainly rec^d it before this, unless some great ^uncommon accident has happened— In this letter I gave you a particular acc^t of the transactions of the legislature— such as the assise-law,— ^^{a new one on the subject of militias,} that for opening the navigation of James & Potowmack-river, ^ ^and the publishing a bill for a gen^l assessment, which will certainly, if proposed, be rejected, in the October ^^new assembly which is to sit in October. The episcopal clergy are incorporated, and next wednesday there is to be a convention of a minister & lay-member from every parish— Whether a liberal system of religion by a coalition,— or a general confusion, will be the consequence is unc ^at present uncertain,— tho’ I think the latter highly probable, if they enter into the labyrinth of eclesiastical history about the Arian at & Athanarian doctrines— I hope they will be wise enough to avoid this—.

          I saw your brother Peyton, and Major Edmunds a few days ago— The latter informed me that his family was well—

          Present me with great respect to Gen^l Chastellux & M^r. Jefferson— You know

I am y^r fr^d—,