Wythe to Richard Henry Lee, 1 August 1778
George Wythe tells Richard Henry Lee that he is "in [his] debt for interesting intelligence" since nothing worth communicating has happened where he is located, so Wythe can only thank Lee for his information at the current time. Wythe goes on to say that he enjoys receiving letters from Lee and hopes that they will be able to continue the correspondence. Wythe ends his letter asking Lee if he should bring a suit to Virginia's attorney general, Edmund Randolph[1].
Letter text
Williamsburg, August 1, 1778
Dear Sir,
I find I am in your debt for interesting intelligence, and feel myself able to discharge it no otherwise than by thanking you; for I hear nothing in this quarter lately, worth communicating; I say discharge, for an ethic writer, of the first class, hath taught me, that gratiam et qui retulit habet, et qui habet dissolvit.[2][3] By another way, however, I may be even with you. The pleasure you will be sensible of when I tell you, that letters from you at all times augment my happiness, must remunerate you for the trouble it costs you to write them. This consideration encourages me to hope for the continuance of a correspondence, valuable, I know, to one, and not otherwise, I flatter myself, to the other. Shall I put the papers in the suit brought in the name of Mr. Gaskins, against Mr. Pinckard, into the hands of our attorney general? I have better reasons for recommending him than that I have a kindness for him. Present my compliments to your brother, and my other countrymen, and be assured that I am your friend,
Honourable Richard Henry Lee,
Member of Congress, for Virginia
Philadelphia
See also
- M.T. Ciceronis Orationes Quaedam Selectae
- Wythe to Richard Henry Lee, 6 November 1777
- Richard Henry Lee to Wythe, 28 February 1783
