Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

MS43.04: Francis Nicholson Papers
Nicholson letter to Madam Page, 14 November 1704

Yo^rs of y^e 25^th of the last moneth I did not receive till this afternoone, but I would have answered it
so soon as I rec^d it, I was concerned to hear of yo^r being indisposed & am still that you are not quite ^recoveredwell.
got: but I hope you are were so well when my friend Coll^o Smith was to wait upon you ab^t yo^r Inventory
as to be able to swear to it &c. but I don't know whether you have remembred to ask for yo^r paraphernalia
w^ch I think you should do as soon as possible.

Upon what account you burnt M^r Beverleys lett^r I cant tell; but I fancy it would have been much bett^r
for him not to have written any such sort of letters: And I'm well enough satisfied that they were contrived by the
small Faction now in England in order to increase their number here: They have endeavoured by all ways &
means possible to ruin me at least my reputation, but I thank God that I do despise defy & condemn them
if they were much more numerous, richer, & of greater parts. and to this purpose I think I have told them these two
or three years last past.

Madam, I'm really sorry that any thing it is no small trouble to you that
it is [illegible] all trouble to you any thing [illegible] be no small trouble to you but as for yo^r brother (whom you are pleased to
terme unfortunate) his ^should falling under my displeasure, I thank God I am not conscious to my self that his being so,
is without very just causes, and I have several times given him opportunitys to have ended that affair. And as for
yo^r Sister, I think that I proferred her very fair both before & since she has been married; but I suppose that the
great expectations of what ^{Mr Fouace &} M^r Blair would do, as likewise of what his wife, ^{& Mr Burwell} was to do, and also pride, haughtiness,
insolence & obstinacy & self conceitedness of others have been the reasons that the affair of yo^r brother & Sister Berkley
have not been adjusted: for Madam I do assure you I really want words to express the great Concern I had
& have for yo^r Sisters welfare, for the sake of her virtue, & being so very well accomplisht in all respects. and tho
I have neither heard nor seen the particulars of what M^r Blair has sworne ag^t me & I suppose Mr Fouace too
yet I'm almost confident that the Major part of their accusations against me is concerning her, I am —
likewise ^very sensible what use they and others made of my courtship to her, & what strange things was told ^her concerning
mee, most of w^ch I suppose she already finds to be untrue, and that we Yorkshiremen are not false hearted
As I hear her Sister M^rs Martha says we are I^but Why should she be afraid of a Virginian that was but bred there.
and why^wherefore should she doubt that she has not charms enough to wholly captivate the Gentleman & make his heart as true as
steel tho not so hard.

Madam, When I am to answer M^r Blair's &c accusation, I shal have all just & due regard to the hon^r &
reputation &c of yo^r Sister Berkley and I hope in God for her sake, she neither gave M^r Fouace M^r Blair, nor
his wife ^{or her brother} any power either by writing or word of mouth to make any Compl^t ag^t me, or that they should make use
of her name in their accusing of me: for I don't know that I have justly deserved any such thing from here. I had misfortune
enough in not obtaining the Great happiness &c of having her consent &c Mad^m You may please to remember what I
wrote to you, concerning the affair of yo^r brother & sister & Esq^re Smith. I hear you gave, [deleted] said, like yo^r self, a very
wise & prudent^sharp thing upon that Subject; but the sooner^quicker yo^r fancys agree, the sooner I shal performe my promise
and then an especial act of my favor (as you are pleased to Call it) to ^{the husband of} Mad^m Berkeley husband would be promoted
by yo^r self, w^ch I am sure they ought they ever thankfully when suppose will be ever thankfully acknowledged
by her to you self but ^{I am not certain} whether she will own her self think y^e obligation ^{think ye same no.} less to me, who am