Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Panton has this moment delivered me yours of this date re-
-questing my attendance this forenoon in Georgetown, where he has
been since ^{it was} intrusted with it, he can b[est tell]. It being ^now so late before I
coud get my Horse out of the commons the sun woud be set. I had
last week heard of the disturbence occasioned by the Patrols, I was in
hopes the Effects of it had been by this time done away. The late Events
at Richmond had occasioned the Governor to order the militia
to patrol different quarters and if any improper assemblage of
Blacks should be discovered to have them brought before a magistrate
or the commandng officer. This fervor in the hands of ignorant
and arbitrary characters will be frequently abused, & my pre-
-sence can be [service]able in the morning please to acquaint me
by the morning stage and I will come up. It will not be con-
venient for me to go from thence to the Falls. I was pla[guel]y
galled in my ride to and from our Courthouse which is not
yet healed, till that is set to Rights I can't ride as far as the
Falls. We seem to be extremely unfortunate, we hardly get
into a proper train before something turns up to discon[cert]
our measures.

John Mason Esquire
George Town

Nov^r 4^th 1800
M^r James [Rush]