Francis W. Gilmer to Dabney Carr
| Right worthy Judge. | Richmond. Jan. 4 5. 1819 |
For your classical greetings on the return of xmas and the auspicious beginning of a new year I give you most humble & hearty thanks. That your money & beer are what may be called good things I do however reluctantly (as Serjeant Williams used to say) “candidly confess.”
For that flower of chivalry the most renowned Knight Capt. John Smith I do promise you if Mr Rice fail not, the sight of his achievements heroical & adventurous, some time during this present month. That you shall see in what manner he trained himself to deeds of Knighthood & arms in the forests near Willoughby in Lincolnshire. How the three Turks he slew—(a fact by the way as well authenticated as any in history tho’ I had supposed it a romance.) How he was made captive & slave to the fair Tragabrigzanda. & far in savage Tartary killed the bashaw his master with a flail & thus escaped—with his no less wonderful adventures in the empire & dominion of Powhatan of famous memory. all which it shall delight you to read.
I would not have you think I had received any marks of displeasure from the Mo family. “on the contrary” Mr Jn has frequently written to me down to a few weeks back the most friendly letters. Mrs R. importuned me with as much cordiality as usual to stay at with them in the summer. &c. But they are people who know the world too well to shew their displeasure and I was sorry they could ever consider me even in their hearts as any other than the most sincere & faithful friend they ever had. For so in truth I have been—& so I will be in spite of the unfounded calumnies with which the [. . .] sycophants of their table may amuse them.
W. R. wants political honors. he opposed Col Rs election to serve D. S. G. and he will do any thing else to rise. He is with that immaculate paragon of fidelity H. [N—n?] in all his views so far as they will advance him. For me you know I always distrusted him—& now see only the expands expanding of those germs which I always knew to exist in him. no more of him. I have long ceased to feel any spirit of that jealousy which tortures him. for in truth I always knew his talents were flashy & unsound. He never can make any real figure, & indeed I never felt the force of his opposition.
I omitted to tell you that I have frequently heard Judge Roane speak in great commendation of sundry Winchester decrees &c. &c. indeed he praises the general tenor of the emanations from that office as of a high order—but he has one great objection to all your arguments, which being a serious one I hope you will incontinently amend therein. towit—that you omit e final in spelling his name—he says this is the only fault he has to impute to you.
as to the Missouri question. You will see my sentiments in the Inquirer of to day (no Wilberforce) just above Tuckers Southron. read & profit. The american is Hay. such a literary bully, Boaster, Puff &c. I never saw. he disgusted me so that I took up pen myself.