Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

When I reflect on y^e earnest desire you seem'd to have
(both in our personal conversation together, & in your two
letters to me) of maintaining a frequent Epistolar correspon-
dence; I really am surpriz'd at so long a silence, w^ch
has continued on your part now above two years. As I'm
wholly ignorant of y^e cause, so, least I shou'd censure you
any wise unjustly, I shall suspend my judgement, & wait
now after this till I see, either by your writing or your
continued silence; whether it is y^e Power or y^e Will y^t has
been wanting. The want of a direction could not be y^e
reason; for tho' y^e abode of a Military man be very uncer-
tain, & y^t your Regim^t has been, since I saw you, again
in Flanders; yet you knew my Mother's dwelling, who cou'd
at any time forward a letter to me. I'm going to leave
this Kingdom, for tomorrow our Regim^t begins its march
in order to be embarkt for Ireland: when I shou'd arrive
there I wou'd give you a direction to me, if I were assu-
r'd y^t y^e want thereof wou'd be y^e only hindrance to your
writing. But since I require an assurance, I ought to propose
y^e means to come by it; & to y^t end I've herein given you
a direction to my Mother, tho' y^e former wou'd have brought
a letter to her hands. Since I'm to march tomorrow, you may
conclude y^t I've some preparations to make, & therefore I
rest

For
M^r John Spotswood to be left at
M^r Valenge's a Book-seller on y^e North
side of y^e Cross at Edinburrough
Scotland

4^th July 1698