phiai-Wher honesty and vertue-is no Recomendationam Determined to Dey or after I arrive in Urope I will write you My love to Daveson Lovely and old Mrs. Miller-farewel JOHN CHISHOLM.. Collonel John Mekee, Teleco blockhouse State of Tennessey via Knoxville Post Deer Rogers-I am gone to England you Kno for what-give love to all my ladian friends-hold yourself Ready Keep every thing secret & keep up there spirits-I go tomorrow--Let Sligins and Greeson kno what they may expect and that they see me Quick after my Return-My friend Keep your secret and mine. 17th March 1797. Capn John Rogers in the Cherokee nation Big Creek-To the care of Ignatious Chisholm Knoxville MY DEAR FRIEND, Pheladelphia JOHN CHISHOLM. New-York, March 21, 1797. I have not been in town for some days past to see if there be any letters in the post-office for me from you-but I shall see to-day-I have hinted to you in my last that I would go myself upon the business we contemplate, if it met your approbation and you should think it most proper, my determination has been founded upon the necessity of a person going soon to set out certainly the beginning of May-and I did not know that you would be fully in readiness-a second reason is that I am sure that our plans will succeed and that there will be no need of great talents in the business confidence is alla third reason is that you may be advantageously engaged in this country in my absence, whereas if I remain I can do nothing I have an opinion that your presence here is essential to our business-all this business is however submitted to you and you must let me know your mind soon-The great question is, whether we should have a meeting before you set out from Philadelphia or after your return from the Tennessee-I would prefer the latter because you will know better how how the land lies-you are however to judge upon the subject. From the last accounts from Europe England will hard run—she must make great exertions to save Portugal. I shall make every arrangement in my affairs to set out from this as early as possible. Yours affectionately, NICS. ROMAYNE. The Hon'ble William Blount Esq. MY DEAR SIR, New-York, March 22d, 1797. Least the letter I sent on yesterday should miscarry, I send you this as a duplicate-I do not know that any thing can occur that will make it requisite for me to write you again before I have pleasure of seeing you. I stated to you in my two last letters, that if it met your - approbation I should have no objection to cross the water myself-It is necessary some one should go on the business soon and I suppose you will not be in readiness-I now believe talents will not be wanting, a person of confidence is all that will be required-I think therefore if I go, you can be very usefully engaged here in my absence, while nothing can be done by me-The only difficulty that occurs is sistermy We must therefore be both in readiness, the one to go if the other can't-and I hope to see you here the last of April with certainty. There are dispatches arrived here from Mr. Pinckney at Paris and they are gone on to the new President-It is supposed here that Congress will be immediately called, and that it is probable an embargo will be laid, and a new minister sent to France-at least an Envoy Extraordinary-I am therefore the more anxious about our arrangements, lest the embargo should be laid and the season lost to us-Your presence here therefore about the last of April will be highly necessary. The news from Europe shew with certainty that the war will continue and perhaps with more acrimony than ever— England I am persuaded will be hard run, but if she acts with boldness and firmness, she will gain I am fully persuaded the day. We have no news here of moment-Our Legislature is adjourned-All people are hard run for money-Your friend Mr. Mr. Burr has returned to the law and now practises in our courts-there will be great and wonderful changes in the circumstances of people here in the course of three or four years Our merchants are under very serious alarms on account of the French cruisers-Our commerce if unprotected will be very much diminished and yet it is hard to say it can be done-I hope this letter will yet find you in Philadelphia and that I may have your ideas about my visiting Europe-If you think it will be best I will make every preparation and every exertion-And as the time is very short-I am anxious for your sentiments-Pray therefore write me as soon as you can. I am in great truth, NICS. ROMAYNE. I have suggested to you in my letter of yesterday our meeting before you went to the Tennessee, but I have expressed a wish that it may be after, as you may survey things and know matters better than you can at present. The Hon'ble William Blount, Esq. Senate of the United States, Philadelphia. Philadelphia, 28th April, 1797. I am much indebted to you, Sir, for your friendly letter of the 14th of this month, enclosing one from Mr. Pulteney whose good opinion gives me high satisfaction. (That letter is now returned.) Taking it for granted that I understand to what business you allude, I could wish to have a full explanation of your sentiments on the subject-it may be done I think in writing. -You may depend on secrecy and discretion on my part. The general sketch of what has taken place here is that a person came to me to make certain important propositions of enterprise, to which I listened, but said I had no power to act. He appeared to me determined and active, though illiterate and unfit to assume command. He urged to have my consent to go to Europe, to tell his own story, to which I consented, (though with some hesitation) not thinking myself authorized to give a positive refusal. It It strikes me that if a person of confidence, with proper authority from home, were to accompany him to the scene of action something might possibly be effected. Information of every sort will be gratefully received. N. B. I have no intention of sending my Secretary any where. Believe me, with great truth and regard, Sir, Dr. Romayne. MY DEAR SIR, New-York, May 12, 1797. I have received your favour from Petersburg-I have serious thoughts of going to Europe the middle of the ensuing week, but I think it will be of moment for me to see you-I think we may meet at Eliz. Town-You can come on—fix your time and I will meet you-After the President's speech very little will be done for some days-Write me immediately what had best be done. Yours sincerely, NICS. ROMAYNE. I have two letters from Sir W. Pulteney on the subject of our business, but there is nothing decisive. The Hon'ble William Blount, Esq. MY DEAR SIR, New-York, May 13th, 1797. I wrote you yesterday acquainting you of my wishes that we should have an interview at Eliz. Town-But upon reflection I think it would give room to a variety of false conjectures and therefore you had best come on directly to NewYork-I informed Mr. Jarvis who is among the inquisitive ones that I conceived you had some business with Mr. Vander Hewitt and might probably be in New-York. There is a fine ship called the Chesapeak which will sail for Bristol about the middle of the ensuing week, at least her sails are bent and she is nearly loaded-if I am to visit Europe I had better go in her. There There is some probability that I may be in France-I will thank you to procure for me some good letters from Mr. JEFFERSON and others. I have spoken to Col. BURR about a land scheme between you and me, and have requested his attention in getting letters for me-Your coming to this place will ensure this business. There are circumstances which will prevent my visiting Philadelphia were I so inclined, but you may easily conceive how my time is taken up in preparing for my voyage-I am very earnest to see you, and if I am to sail-there is no time to be lost-I shall get myself in readiness to go in twenty-four hours notice. Yours affectionately, The Hon'ble William Blount, Esq. DEAR SIR, NICS. ROMAYNE. New-York, May 23, 1797. The ship in which I intended to have sailed for Europe left this on Friday. I momently expected to hear from you. I have informed you that I have rec'd two letters on the subject of the business, written to you, and by the Packet I expect further information-This and the expectation of seeing you retains me here— I have it not in my power to visit the seat of Congress, and I must therefore expect the pleasure of seeing you here where we can meet more privately than at any other placeA variety of conjectures may take place if we meet in Jersey-Let me have the pleasure of hearing from you as soon as you arrive, and your sentiments on the subject of our meeting. I am with much sincerity, The Hon'ble William Blount, Esq. NICS. ROMAYNE. Philadelphia, |