John Hatley Norton letter to Edmund Randolph, 1790 July 5

[Recto]

from the Lines of your Letter dated in
Williamsburg the 23 Instant I must suppose yourself Mrs.
R: &c &c are [illegible] shaping your Course with head of Elk, &
that this may find you either in Philadelphia or New York

By this Weeks Mail I was more pleased than sur
prized at the contents of a Letter I received from Mr. Warner Lewis
Junior in Williamsburg, which you have inclosed with my
answer to it, Your Sentiments & Dear Mrs. Randall's
will fix my determination as to so essential a matter
The extreme warmth of Affection for my Children & the anxi
ety that constantly prevails in my breast for their future
happiness calls forth every exertion that I can possibly make
in their behalf I am ^ ^very willing to suppose ^ ^{nay to believe}[illegible] the flatter
ing Accounts of Mr. Lewis's character, & Education that he is
calculated to make my dear Courtenay happy in the married
State, but [illegible] even under the persuasion or prepossession
[illegible] of such an Opinion, I cannot agree that she shou'd
give her hand to him without yours & Mrs Randolphs
approbation Your answer to this I wish to recieve per
Post to Alexandria directed to me at this place I fear
[illegible] good Mrs. Randolph &c & will not relish this Expedi
tion by Water to the Head of Elk my poor Girls If any
will be of little Comfort to her in the Water, as it is an Element
they have not been Accustomed to I have not received a Line
from either Courtenay, or Nancy since Mr Nelson's Jimmy
got down by whom I wrote & sent them 4 pair Callicos

[Verso]

Page 2

with my best wishes attend your [illegible]

I hope to be [illegible] & treated as your sincere friend
that neither time, distance nor any circumstances in this life can make any unfavourable attention
in your sentiments towards me___the appearance of which
will be a constant feast with [illegible] of
[illegible]
Your very aff. [illegible]
J.H. Norton

To
W Edmund Randolph
5 July 1790

My dear friend
Your letter & the enclosure from [illegible]
[illegible] of this date when from me
was certainly influential to all parties [illegible] to know what [illegible]
Lewis's ideas are upon the subject. [illegible]
place [illegible] as his marriage [illegible] will cer-
tainly be expected by me__[illegible] Mr. Randolph, that a [illegible]
as the [illegible] Mr. Lewis [illegible] . If his [illegible]
young people may be [illegible] unhappy__[illegible] Mr. R will in-
vestigate any peril that is [illegible] my daughter's happiness. &
let me know your opinions. [illegible] which [illegible]
in [illegible] Winchester 30 June 17980 if not all together given
mine_[illegible] J. W. Norton [illegible] my dear Courtenay.
[illegible] letter if this to 22 effort [illegible] written after
M. Nelson's Jimmy Edmund Randolph [illegible] with the [illegible] . It
[illegible] copy of a letter embark the
herd of Elk in [illegible] my letter of 30[illegible]
Mr. J. Galbraith in Philad. [illegible] I shall have this, but as not
improbable but you may receive them both [illegible] from
his hands__if you & he have left Philad., they will be forwarded___
as soon as [illegible] where you are [illegible]. I shall with [illegible]
dear children. I have a fine [illegible] from them which I shall [illegible]
onto Philadelphia or New York__With my best wishes to you<
all [illegible] My dear friend
Your friend [illegible]
JHN

Page 2

with my best wishes attend your [illegible]

I hope to be [illegible] & treated as your sincere friend
that neither time, distance nor any circumstances in this life can make any unfavourable attention
in your sentiments towards me___the appearance of which
will be a constant feast with [illegible] of
[illegible]
Your very aff. [illegible]
J.H. Norton

To
W Edmund Randolph
5 July 1790

My dear friend
Your letter & the enclosure from [illegible]
[illegible] of this date when from me
was certainly influential to all parties [illegible] to know what [illegible]
Lewis's ideas are upon the subject. [illegible]
place [illegible] as his marriage [illegible] will cer-
tainly be expected by me__[illegible] Mr. Randolph, that a [illegible]
as the [illegible] Mr. Lewis [illegible] . If his [illegible]
young people may be [illegible] unhappy__[illegible] Mr. R will in-
vestigate any peril that is [illegible] my daughter's happiness. &
let me know your opinions. [illegible] which [illegible]
in [illegible] Winchester 30 June 17980 if not all together given
mine_[illegible] J. W. Norton [illegible] my dear Courtenay.
[illegible] letter if this to 22 effort [illegible] written after
M. Nelson's Jimmy Edmund Randolph [illegible] with the [illegible] . It
[illegible] copy of a letter embark the
herd of Elk in [illegible] my letter of 30[illegible]
Mr. J. Galbraith in Philad. [illegible] I shall have this, but as not
improbable but you may receive them both [illegible] from
his hands__if you & he have left Philad., they will be forwarded___
as soon as [illegible] where you are [illegible]. I shall with [illegible]
dear children. I have a fine [illegible] from them which I shall [illegible]
onto Philadelphia or New York__With my best wishes to you<
all [illegible] My dear friend
Your friend [illegible]
JHN