d days, and, after glancing
over the letter, hands it to George, who reads as follows:--

"RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, December 26th, 1756.

"HONOURED MADAM! AND SISTER!--I have received, and thankfully
acknowledge, your ladyship's favour, per Rose packet, of October 23
ult.; and straightway answer you at a season which should be one of
goodwill and peace to all men: but in which Heaven hath nevertheless
decreed we should still bear our portion of earthly sorrow and trouble.
My reply will be brought to you by my eldest son, Mr. Esmond Warrington,
who returned to us so miraculously out of the Valley of the Shadow of
Death (as our previous letters have informed my poor Henry), and who is
desirous, not without my consent to his wish, to visit Europe, though he
has been amongst us so short a while. I grieve to think that my dearest
Harry should have appeared at home--I mean in England--under false
colours, as it were; and should have been presented to his Majesty, to
our family, and his own, as his father's heir, whilst my dear son George
was still alive, though dead to us. Ah, madam! During the eighteen
months of his captivity, what anguish have his mother's, his brother's,
hearts undergone! My Harry's is the tenderest of any man's now alive. In
the joy of seeing Mr. Esmond Warrington returned to life, he will
forget the worldly misfortune which befalls him. He will return to
(comparative) poverty without a pang. The most generous, the most
obedient of human beings, of sons, he will gladly give up to his elder
brother that inheritance which had been his own but for the accident of
birth, and for the providential return of my son George.

"Your beneficent intentions towards dearest Harry will be more than ever
welcome, now he is reduced to a younger brother's slender portion! Many
years since, an advantageous opportunity occurred of providing for him
in this province, and he would by this time have been master of a noble
estate and negroes, and have been enabled to make a figure with most
here, could his mother's wishes have been complied with, and his
father's small portion, now lying at small interest in the British
funds, have been invested in this most excellent purchase. But the forms
of the law, and, I grieve to own, my elder son's scruples, prevailed,
and this admirable opportunity was lost to me! Harry will find the
savings of his income have been carefully accumulated--long, long may
he live to enjoy them! May Heaven b