Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-04-17

Introduce it here.
Debtors Prison, 81 re City and corss,y O
/ N-zv 16'k. A6itre6 IS. 1905.
To JOSEPH PLAINWORTHY, Esq.
| Dear Sir,
! The mere sound of the place of my re-
sidercc, from whence this letter is dated,
will prepare you for unwescome in.eIli.
gence. The degree Of AFFINITY by which
we stand connected, alone compeis me 10
the unpleasant task of describing my siiua-
ton. To be the Herald of our own folly,
and to proclaim all our latent weaknesses,
requires some strength of mind and
have thousand times regretted since my
confinement, the existence ofanytie whsci,
might turn my eye upon myself, or awake
me from the icthargy into which I have
iaisen. know you viii disapproye of Ibis
sentiment tor its inpiety, and, at any othes
Z time should Tear the reprimand il wall
Certainly bring upon mes but rememDer,
there arc times when we are both unable
and unwilling TO enaiize our thoughts, or
to scan our actions. The agony of nv
| mind, the miseries which surround me.
ne toss Of my gallant son, and the ceies
OF lhS wletched prisoners Tor bread must,
therefore, be nay apology for any metal
| or verbal errors, and there viii. no doab,
be many, wsich this letter may contain.
| For what purposes were the passions OF
avarice and ambition given to the human
mind Why are mankind so generally dis
satisfied with the middle stations in socje-
/ W! am noi calm enough 10 aDsw e. these
| Questions dispassionaleIy and shall there
tore leave them to your better wisdom. In
the mean time I will proceed To inform
You ho@ these passions, and ,his dissatis.
iaction, have operated upon your unfort1.
! nate kinsinan.
need not inform you how pleasantly [
was situated IN the county OF Duchess
"nere had an extensive farm, kind neigh
oors and true friends; where had been
successfully town clerk, Justice of tn.
peace, sheriff ofthe county, and membe,
OF The legislature. need not dwell ,n,n
The case, quiet, and substantial pleasures
OF country life. You are acquainted win
them all, and will therefore spare me the
PAIN OF an enumeration. But when tell
you that inherited great portion Of nv
property, which was in some neas1r,.
bound to hand down to my children, yon
VIII not feel less surprised than | do at the
extent ct my folly, the absence of my rea-
son and the force CT my creduliiy.
am not, however, entirely 90 bla ne
some OF my friends, who had enl,arke 4 !,
successful trade, we're continually ar ,ins,
me 10 convert my properly into cash, e.
come 20 ihis city, and to enter Into the
shipping business. My wife, too, who Ia,
proved very ambitious woman. chime,
in'anddid not fah 20 magnifylhe prosnefl,
OF success. She toagcd to figure Ia tnoe.
splendid routes and parties of which an,
had tasted during our occasional visi,- I,
town and she was quite certain shout,
make more money none year thanwe -ool,
spend w ten. yielded--cane TO To w
established house--read price current
sent vessels TO sea. and was. for sorn,
time, successful but fortune, ike the nd,
both GIBBS and flows.
When Gen. lie CIerc, with the Frsnci
army, arrived al S.. Domingo, there Wai
a great demand for -four and provisions
the staple articles OF our eommercs.
! lspeculated deeply IN them, hurried them
on cupboard, and as it was az an important
crisis, dispatched my oldest son as suDer
, cargo forthe voyage. lie was youth en-
. dowed with every ssssssss but stop $50
his father cannot tell what he was ssassssl
: 70 him he was every thing. On his arri
ygl at the Cape, b. saw nothing but de,tl
and desOia,ion.--Tke European troon
: we're dolly dying BY hundreds, and the po
: happy blacks were pressing fast upon IN
Town. The government had armed =
the inhabitants, aud many Transient ne,
sons, and had compelled thens to 70 on,
! acs'on with the troops Of the line, wbt,
many Of them met a cruel and barbara,