Peyton Skipwith to William Short, 20 October 1785

This letter will be handed you by Cap^t. Littlepage with whom You are acquainted

          I have only received one letter from You since Your arrival in France and that writen imediately upon your geting their I complied with your request of assisting M^r. Harrison tio exchange your claims for interest arising upon Military Warrants, indeed they now pass current Pound for Pound, and as Harrison met with no difficulty in procuring cash for the In^st. as soon as it became due, he either has, or ought to have remited you long since Matters stand here much as when you left Us, the Assembly is now meeting, and some are of opinion, that comission of Paper money will certainly take Place and that contrary to their most solem<...>n ingagm^t. will endeavour to redeem the In^st. upon Military claims from 6 to 3 ⅌C^t. but for my own part I consider it no more than outdoor conversation Predvious to your going to England, let me hear from You that I may make some precision in Hyndmans hands for You; let me know it imediately, if by M^r. Harrisons neglect, or by any other means You should be in want of the necessary Sums of Money to enable You to appear in the Gentitly<...> circles and the deficiency shall be imediately made up, thr'o the channel of old Alexander with whom I have cultivated an acquaint<...>ance

          Find out if possible when one of the finest, large kind of Jack Asses can be purchased, the price, and how to be brought here; I am very desirous of breeding the large kind of Mules, w^ch. cannot be done until one of the large kind of Asses can be introduced among Us it is said <...> that in some parts of France, they have a much better breed that ^ⁱⁿ any part of Spain.

          A few days ago M^r. Raleigh Coulson was Married to Miss Marshall— Col^o. W^m. Brent who married Miss Ambler is dead, and further I know of no changes ab^t. Richmond— (the late Governor Harrison is making all the interest he possibly can for the Chair, but it is thought by the Members in Town, Tyler will succeed; some are of opinion that M^r. Maddison will be set up and it seems to be the general opinion that if he is, his Friends will <...> <...> elect him Our crops this season are generally short, my opinion is that not more than 2/3^ds. of the quantity made last year will be made this, the price of Tobacco much ^^fallen, and cash exceedingly scarce indeed, owing to the large remittances that have been made to Britain in Specie— your brother & Gen^l Scott left t<...>his a few weeks ago in their way to Kentuckey to w^ch place the Gen^l. has removed his family. You will doubtless have received have received several letters from Peyton, for as he has spent much of his time lately with me, I know that he has writen you several letters, and I expect one comes from him by M^r. Littlepage— don’t be surprized at seeing me in France for as Fulwar Skipwith’s account of the Skipwith family in England induces me to think it necessary that I go as soon as I can make it convenient to England, it is not improbable that I take Paris in my way— God bless You, and continue You healthy & happy present my most respectfull compliments to that good & great Man m^r. Jefferson & to miss Jefferson & assure yourself that I am truly, and sincerely your affectionate Uncle