Richmond Augt. 5th. 1775.
Capt. Grayson informing me that he shall set out on his Return Home to-morrow, I take the Opportunity of writing to you, tho' I have Nothing very agreeable to communicate. We are getting into great Confusion here, & I fear running the Country to an Expence it will not be able to bear—3,000 Men are voted as a Body of standing Troops, to be forthwith raise, & form'd into three Regiments, the first to be commanded by Mr. Patrick Henry, the second by Colo. Thos. Nelson, & the third by Mr. Wm. Woodford. A great push was made for Colo. Mercer of Fredericksburg to the 1st. Regiment; but he lost it by a few Votes, upon the Question between him and Mr. Henry; tho' he had a majority upon the Ballot.
The Expence of the last Indian war will be near £150,000, our Share of the Expence of the continental Army £150,000 more, the Charge of the Troops now raising, & the Minute-Men with their Arms &c. £350,000; these added together will make an enormous Sum, & there are several Charges still behind; such as the Voluntier Compys at Williamsburg, the Payment of the Members of the Convention &c. However nothing is yet absolutely conclusive, & some Abridgement may yet perhaps be made; tho' at present there is little Prospect of it.
As it is proposed that a Company of fifty Men for the standing Army shall be raised in each County, my Son George may perhaps have a Mind to enter into the Service; in which Case, pray tell him that it will be very contrary to my Inclination, & that I advise him by all Means against it. When the Plan for the Minute-Men is compleated, if he has a Mind to enter into that I shall have no Objection: as I look upon it to be the true natural, and safest Defence of this, or any other free Country; & as such, wish to see it encouraged to the utmost. I shou'd have wrote to him but that it was uncertain whether he was at Home, or at the Springs.
I have been very unwell, & unable to attend the Convention for two or three Days, but am now getting better, & attended again to Day, & am going out to morrow to visit a Friend in the Country. God knows when I shall get home again. Remember me kindly to my dear children—the family at Springfield; & all Friends; and believe me Dr. Sir, Yr. affect. Friend and Servt.