Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

I can by no means conceive from whence
it has arisen that you have never
heard from me-you say you have
not and I believe you-believe
me in return when I assure you
I have written to you several letters-
In Canada particularly answering your
Nephews-from Cambridge in New England
and from Virginia-Whether I have
written from New York since my arrival
I cannot say, I should rather think
not as it is not so marked in a
Book wherein I keep memorandums
of all letters I write-let us drop
the subject of time past and go on
to the future-Be assured, My dear
Veal, I have never ceased to regard
you-my esteem for you is invariable-
it took its rise from the multitude
of your conduct while on Service
with me and from the friendly and
attentive concern you have at all
times shown for me and my interest.
My good old friend I believe you
to be, also, assured that my regard
for ^you will never lessen-let us, therefore
open our correspondence and think
and feel for each other as usual_

I hear you have ^been offered
the Commissary Post here, but have
declined it-I cannot say I am at
all surprised-but it would have been
fortunate for the service had you
accepted-I should have thought an
offer of Twenty shillings a day and
after the War to have that allowance
continued might have tempted you,
and you may have heard that Gent.
did not run in debt in America-
But you know best, My dear Veal,
what is proper for you, and you
have, in my opinion, an undoubted
right after such long and faithful
services to consult and pursue your
own feelings-May you have them
indulged for many years__ I wish
you every possible happiness.

Tell my friend Mrs. Veal
that I value her sincerity. That
I think with much gratitude on
the kind care she has been so
good always to take of me__I
remember so well the [list] of the
good things at your hospitable
House that I long to shew you
that age, nor plagues, nor dissa-
pointments have conquered my
appetite or mirth or the pleasure
I used to enjoy in the society of
good friends such as you and
yours-I remember a Young Lady
at the Mansion who must be now
approaching that dangerous age
of Teens-I hope she proves a comfort
to Mrs. Veal and to you__

It would be tedious to enter
into a discussion upon all I have
suffered-being exchanged settles all-
Tis like a recovery from a severe
distemper-the disorder has at
length terminated and I ^am once again
in the Kings Service and with this
Army.

Do not send me Newspapers,
I get them regularly by the pacquet_
Be good to send me the Papers
I left in your hands at my depar-
ture from Portsmouth-You will
have an opportunity of sending them
by some ship of War----Adieu
Dear Veal__ write to me often and
I will do the same when I can-I
grow monstrous old but am in perfect
health.