View source for Wythe to Everard Robinson, 31 October 1801

[[File:WytheToEverardRobinson31October1801P1.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Letter from [[George Wythe]] to Everard Robinson, October 31, 1801 Original image at [http://auctions.stairgalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=043016+++498+&refno=++102865 Stair Galleries.] ]]
[[File:WytheToEverardRobinson31October1801P2.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Letter from George Wythe to Everard Robinson (reverse), October 31, 1801 Original image at [http://auctions.stairgalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=043016+++498+&refno=++102865 Stair Galleries.] ]]
This letter is mentioned by the lawyer, collector, and author, Adrian H. Joline (1850 &ndash; 1912), in his 1902 book, ''Meditations of an Autograph Collector.''<ref>Princeton University, [http://findingaids.princeton.edu/names/f71c864da239d9c125f5f06368494b65 "Joline, Adrian H. (Adrian Hoffman), 1850-1912,"] Princeton University Library Finding Aids.</ref> Joline says of [[George Wythe|Wythe]]:

<blockquote>
George Wythe, the law-preceptor of [[Henry Clay]], wrote in a singular fashion, almost "printing" his characters, each letter separate from its neighbors; all exceedingly neat, and, despite a little stiffness of effect, remarkably pleasing. The great Virginia chancellor, like [[wikipedia:Samuel Freeman Miller|Mr. Justice Miller]], of the Supreme Court, began his study of law at about thirty years of age, and attained the highest eminence; but Miller spent his "twenties" in practising medicine, while Wythe passed those years in ridding himself of a comfortable fortune. After settling up with his creditors he settled down to work, making ample atonement for his years of indiscretion, and dying, at eighty, from [[Death of George Wythe|accidental poisoning]]. There are not many letters of his to be had by the amateur collector, although signed documents are passably common. My letter is not signed; the name, however, in the body of it, shows it is addressed to Everard Robinson.<ref>Adrian H. Joline, ''Meditations of an Autograph Collector'' (New York: Harper &amp; Brothers, 1902), 301.</ref>
</blockquote>

By 1801, Wythe was suffering from rheumatism or arthritis in his right hand, and had taught himself to print neatly using his left hand.<ref>[[Wythe to Thomas Jefferson, 10 April 1800|George Wythe to Thomas Jefferson, April 10, 1800]].</ref> Joline mistakenly repeats the popular story that Wythe misspent his youth before turning to the study of law; this has been demonstrated to be untrue, as Wythe was already practicing law by 1746, at age nineteen or twenty.<ref>W. Edwin Hemphill, "[[George Wythe the Colonial Briton#Page 42|George Wythe the Colonial Briton: A Biographical Study of the Pre-Revolutionary Era in Virginia]]," PhD diss., University of Virginia, 1937, 42.</ref>

Wythe had recently bought back his family plantation, [[Chesterville]], in July of 1801, having sold the property in 1795. Everard Robinson is mentioned as a commissioner to the 1801 sale, along with George Booker, and William Moore.<ref>NASA Cultural Resources (CRGIS), [http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/crgis/images/7/7e/1802_Chesterville_Deed_from_Robert_Kirtland_in_1969.pdf "1802 Chesterville Deed from Robert Kirtland in 1969,"] Chesterville Plantation Site.</ref> Wythe had been living in Richmond since 1789, when he was appointed to the High Court of Chancery.

This letter was probably sold at auction after Joline's death. It sold again as recently as 2016, listing its provenance as from the James S. Copley Library, University of San Diego, California.<ref>Stair Galleries, [http://auctions.stairgalleries.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=043016+++498+&refno=++102865 Sale 043016, Lot 498], May 1, 2016.</ref>

==Letter text, 31 October 1801==
===Page 1===

<blockquote>
[Postmark: RICHMOND, NOV. 2]
<center>
G. Wythe to E. Robinson.
</center>
I thank thee, good sir, for thy kind letter received yesterday; and shall be obliged to thee for endeavouring to preserve my land and house from devastation until i can sell or lease them. i beg thee to present my good wishes to my friend and old acquaintance, thy father. adieu. 31 octob. 1801.
</blockquote>

===Page 2===

<blockquote>
<center>
Everard Robinson<br />near the halfway house between<br />York &amp; Hampton
</center>
</blockquote>

==References==
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