Courtenay Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1774 August 30

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August y^e 30^th 1774

My D^r. Son

This is to thank you for your many
Affectionate letters & should write to you oftner did
I not think your Fathers letters answer'd the same
purpose I am now to enquire how my Daughter
& little Girl does I have the pleasure of hearing
she grows A fine child as to your seeing so many
Beauty's in her. I don't wonder as I thought the
same of you when you were of her age do you
not remember the Fable of the Crowe & her young
Indeed it is verry fit it should be so as providence
has kindly ty'd that link in Nature for the
preservation of our young as well as for our own
happiness pray let me know if A Corral & Bells
would be acceptable as I would send one by the
next opportunity I would have sent one by this
ship could I have been satisfied in this point
I must now take the liberty to say you are not
Explicit enough in regard to your goods without
which it is Impossible to execute your order's I have
now in my close A coat waistcoat & Breeches & 2
Breadth ^of persian which must lie till I know what
you would have done with them your Aunt thanks
you for your hams which would be better coule we
get them in april or May as the ship dries them
surprizingly. your birds all died soon after they
went on Board owing to their being in too small
A Cage D^r Hatley dont be so sparing of Timber
the next time. I am sorry you omitted sending me
the Recipe for your poor Brother though I fear
all attempts would be vain still I should be glad
to have it sent

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I have sent you some Walnuts by Easten will send
some Beeff in the winter when it can be done with
more certainty of its being well cured your Aunt
Turner Intended to send you & my Daughter it
which should eat first she left them to my choice
& knowing your Father gave you no gravy spoons
have sent you A pair thinking it would be
most acceptable you mention'd your seeeing your
Unkle hope you are in good terms with him
wishing you may never experience what he
has done you say you have not wrote on
Politic's the dye seems now to be cast for
America A gold chain or A wooden leg the latter
of which I hope never will be the case. your
Aunt Fludger has sent you some Sermons
though the author is old still the Subject
is as good as the best since writting the above
I received your letter by M^r. Jones which gave
me the pleasure of hearing of A continuan^ce
of yu. Health that God may keep you
& yours is the ardent wish

of your Affectionate Mother
Courtneay Norton

letter directed
please to deliver the [crossed out, illegible] to M^r
Davis the Gentleman that went out
in Cap^t Esten last year as I don't
know where he is or how to direct
to him
C Norton

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To
John Hatley Norton Esq^r
Merch^t
York Town
Virginia

by favor of
Capⁿ Esten

London 30^th Aug^st. 1774
Courtney Norton
Rec^d Nov^r. 1774

Answ^d Mar: 75.