Thomas Mann Randolph (1741–93) to Thomas Mann Randolph and William Randolph
| My dear Boys | Richmond Virginia Novr 29. 85 |
I catch this moment to write you a few lines by Mr Fulwar Skipwith who is going from this place in an hour, to embark for London I Recd Toms and Mr Elders, letters by the Mermaid yesterday, and I am concerned very much, to be informed of your Situation, respecting pecuniary Matters but I hope the blame on me is not so great, as Mr Elder paints it, in all his letters, I have hither to done every thing in my power, to prevent it, considering the low State of my Finances, I mean the bad crops of every kind together with the heavy Taxes, we yearly experience, however you are not much in debt, and Mr Skipwith will now, put your allowance, upon a permanent establishment at the Rate of $220 per annum to each both of you, this sum I hope will do for you for a year or too, I shall write to you fully by the first opportunity to Glasgow, Your Mama is returned from New York, in tolerable good health, which she wrote you by this opportunity, I am unhappy to hear of Toms indisposition, but it’s all owing to his rapid growth I hope, I wish Billy joy of his [. . .] Trip to England, but he must not practise those visits least it should interfere with his studies
I shall have no objection to your going to France the next Vacation, I am in a hurry as Mr Skipwith is just going
My dear Boys