He by whose Almighty Nod the Scale of Empire rises or alternate falls has seen meet in the course of his providence and for his own wise purposes to dissever Great Britain and her Colonies—A Heart that wishes well to both dictates this Letter a Heart that sincerely prays that while time itself exists Great Britain and America may be only known by the friend ship they bear to one another.

Tho I myself am a perfect Stranger to your Excellency I humbly trust my name is not, the memory of three worthy Brothers whom Heaven called home to himself in the space of Eighteen Months just prior to these Wars, I hope is too dear to the Minds of many worthy Virginians for Years or Wars to obliterate.

Dr John at Norfolk or Dr Alexander in Gloster County or my Uncle Dr John Symms for ought I know might attend in your Excellencys family—my Brother Robert who was in the Mercantile line might be your nearest Neighbour.

Their fate was very extraordinary soon after my Uncles Death they all three in the space of Eighteen months follow’d him I hope to Heaven—E’er a sword was drawn—their accounts I trust being closed with the Almighty—their last Earthly care was for their Sisters to whom they left all they had but we had just reced two hundred pounds Sterling with some family trinkets when the Courts of Justice closed—thus their property rests in Virginia and I candidly confess the meaning of my presuming to trouble your Excellency with this is to see and recover it—for that purpose I have taken the liberty to inclose Copies of the Accounts we have which all the vouchers we can give as Dr Archd Campbell whom poor John the last that died left in charge was burnt out of Norfolk—whether he saved any of my Brothers papers or indeed is yet in life I cannot say.

My Sister Christian was married and left four Daughters for she did not long survive her brothers—Susannah is married to a wealthy Man of course Independent—I myself am left single and alone—for this cause I trouble your Excellency and fully empower you to employ any Man of business you think fit to wind up the affairs.

The Brave are ever generous and compassionate nor can it derogate from British Majesty itself to own you—such for your goodness therefore I rest and have only to add that as Heaven has seen meet to make you the founder of the Empire of America—May he preserve you long in it—and may it flourish under your auspicious the Palm Tree and grow up as the Cedar of Lebanon. This is the sincere prayer of your Excellency’s Most Obedient humble Servant