Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

MS43.4: Francis Nicholson Papers
Nicholson letter to Mrs. Burwell, 24 March 1700/1

I hope in God that this will find you in a much better state of health than when I saw
you, which to hear of will be very acceptable to me.

I hope you will excuse me if I beg, which I do with all the submission & earnestness
possible, yo^r favour about that which so nearly concerns my welbeing in this World and
the next, viz the obtaining the consent of that most extraordinary in all respects & most
accomplished young Lady Madam Lucy whose good & vertuous character I cannot pretend
fully to give: but this I am very certain of that she hath to all intents and purposes made
me her Adorer, Admirer, & most faithfull Lover.

Madam, for Gods sake be so charitable as to pity this my present unhappy circumstances
and use yo^r Interest to make me one of the most happy men alive: and from my Soul I do
assure you that if I do not fully design & endeavoure by all honest Lawfull ways &
means possible to make Madam Lucy so too, I would never have pretended to her:
for I hope that both you Madam, and that most vertuous and fair Lady believe, or at
least think that it is all powerfull Love alone that causeth my passion for her: and
I hope in God (for I have very often pleas'd my self with the thoughts of it) that she
will be the principal means of governing my other passion, especially in her presence,
in which I shall always covet to be and would never leave Virginia without she had a
mind to it. What you will be pleased, Madam, to do for me towards the promoting this
great affair of my whole Life, shall not only be most gratefully ^acknowledged by the words, but also by
the actions of him who is