John Hatley Norton letter to Edmund Randolph, 1781 November 21

John Hatley Norton letter to Edmund Randolph, 1781 November 21

John Hatley Norton, Richmond, Virginia, letter to Edmund Randolph, dated November 11, 1781. Norton writes concerning a bill of exchange he has obtained from Thomas Archer and about the dispute over western lands. Concerning the land dispute, Norton writes that he hopes it will be put aside for the time being as it is a contentious issue.

MS1936.3.1491
Folder 146

Ink on paper

[Recto]

Richmind 21^st. Novem^r. 1781.

Dear Sir/

I wrote you & M^r. Norton p Post, have since obtained
a bill of Exchange of M^r. Thomas Archer in this Town for
£30 Virginia Curr^y. payable in dollars at 6/. ea. making
the sum of £37.10. pennsylvania curr^y. The bill is made
payable to you & I hope the Money may be instantly recd,
if not please to inform me thereof & keep it in your own
hands 'till further Notice. I have wrote M^rs. Norton& men
-tioned this remittance was for her & that you woud negotiate
the bill.

The Assembly have just set in [illegible] business. Your
letter to them concerning the claims of some of the
States to Territory in the Western World ^{was read}: [crossed out, illegible] The
Jealousy of the Northern States I fear may be productive
of internal Discord, as our Countrymen are not inclined
to make the Concessions perhaps that may be required; I
wish for the Dispute to be postponed to a future day,
when our Independence may be fixed on a firm basis
As the Controversy carried to extremities at this Time might
shake the Union & give our Enemies a great Opportunity
of being able to [crossed out, illegible] ^derive advantages from ^our Internal Divisions

[Verso]

This is intended by M^r. Cyrus Griffin who will be able
to give you full informat[ion] [illegible] public affairs in
This Quarter being

D^r S^r. Your Friend & sr.
JHN

I expect to find all the
family from [illegible] arrived
at the Retreat when I get there Tomorrow

Richmond 21 Nov^r. 1781.
JH Norton
to Edmd. Randolph
concerning Tho^s. Archer
D^r. in Fav^r. of JHN
for £30 -