William Nelson to William Short, 11 January 1785

     I return you a thousand thanks for your friendly favors from Phil^a & New York, and would certainly have answered the former before you sailed, had I supposed that event sufficiently distant. Must I attribute the delay ^^{of it to} your apprehensions of the fair passenger, notwithstanding your philosophy? or to the powerful impressions of the terrors of a “tempest”? I foresee that like another “American wanderer” you will fall in love with every hostess’s daughter & Fille de chambre in France.— If you have not seen this book, I desire you will get it— The style is frequently an affected imitation of Sterne’s,— yet it has in my opinion some ^^{the Author, I think has} Genius and Merit.— Let me have your opinion of it, as well as whatever else you meet with—

          Your acc^t. of the famous P<...> n humouris is one ^^{and the city are two} of the many proofs of the liberty which fame takes in exaggerating Characters.

          I rejoice at the preference you still give to this state, and, however unphilosophical it may been, feel much ^^{myself highly} gratified by it— But will this affection be ^^{stand un}shaken by the allurements of science, and refinements in arts, which Europe will throw in your way? or is ^^not our domestick happiness and near approach to perfect liberty and equality a counterbalance to them? I am anxious for your decision on this point,— and the more so, as you have left this country since the revolution, and are fully sensible of our freedom civil and religious— The attack ^^Lately made on the latter, by the attempt to introduce an assessment, has failed— The bill was vetoed rejected by a small majority after the engrossment—

          A law establishing assise-courts is passed. This is an event which, I am sure, you will give you ^^great pleasure, independent of the private advantage, which you may reap from it, if you return to the bar. It ^^is surely a radical reform of ^^our late partial administration in the county courts, and ^^{something similar to it} the only system adapted to our extensive country. Yet for the ease of the people in point of ^^{as to} expedition and  œconomy, I wish it were <...> on ^{so far on} the district-plan, that the writs sh^d issue ^be returnable, the issues made up, and judgements (except in points of law) made up in ^^{entered at} the assise, -court, as they are to be on ^^{instead of} the gen^l court— The operation of the law is to begin ^suspended till April 1786.

          Opening a communication with the western-country, by of extending the navigation of James-River and Potowmack, has ^^lately engrossed much of the publick attention here here.— Gen^l Washington proposed the plan to the Governor— Maryland cooperates with us as to Potowmack— Money is voted and companies incorporated by each state, with a grant of toll to the subscribers.

          Our revenue seems to be in a flourishing state— we have made ample appropriations for all demands, particularly for foreign debts, for which, an addition ^^{those due to foreigners, having added} to the tax on process, the acrearage of the tax of ^^for 1783 and the produce of the sale of the gGosport-lands are appropriated— There is one species of foreign debts however ^^{for paying} which no provision is made, nor even legal impediments to their recovery removed. I mean the British Debts. The evening before ^^{day on which} the house was to adjourn, several members were detained on the south-side of the river. They tried unsuccessfully for several days to form an house— The same obstacle remained, and at length the members dispersed leaving that and some other bills unfinished, which had passed both houses,— but had not been reported to the house of delegates, enrolled, or signed by the Speakers— Some, tho’ I confess contrary to my idea, think they may still be acted on.

          M^r. Jo: Jones is y^r successor at our board, as M^r Selden and M^r. Roane are to M^r Smith and M^r. Christian.

          Our friend B R has lately had a severe fit of the gout, and is scarcely now recovered. His ^^family has met also with an accident, which would have very much derange^d one less amiable and philosophic. The old mansion at Chatsworth is level with the earth. ^^However They live happily in one of the offices, where on your return you may take vengeance for the beating I gave you at chess, when I had ^^last the pleasure of seeing you there. This I expect will be done with a marked pawn, or I shall claim the game—

          Present my respectful comp^ts to M^r. Jefferson. Remember me po to any of the officers of the French-army of our acquaintance that you may meet with, particularly the C^t Rochambeau, his son, Gen^l Chastellux, Generals Veomenil, the knight of Malta, whose name I have forgot, Duplessis, and the Mess^rs Tarle.

and believe me,

with the utmost,

sincerity, yrs