Letter to T.B. Pruitt from John Lloyd, April 15, 1786.
Dublin Core
Title
Letter to T.B. Pruitt from John Lloyd, April 15, 1786.
Creator
Date
1786-04-15
Description
Letters from London and Nantes during the American Revolutionary War addressed to Thomas Farr, Jr., Charleston. Post-war letters are dated Charleston and are addressed to a nephew in England. Business and politics are the principal topics discussed.
2023-05-03
600 dpi, 16-bit depth, color, Epson Expression 10000XL, Archival masters are tiffs.
Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Charleston Library Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Special Collections Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Charleston Library Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Format
image/jpeg
Type
StillImage
Source
Ms. 98, John Lloyd Letters, 1775-1786.
Language
English
Identifier
Ms98_Let11
Text Item Type Metadata
Transcription
Charleston April 15th 1786
My Dear Nephew,
A sedulous attention in my official character during a long session of the General Assembly, and a nervous head-ach which was occasioned by it, have obliged me to delay inviting you longer than I should have done, if that had not been the case.
In my last letter of the 21st of January I informed you of the distressed state we were in respecting money matters, by reason of an infamous Law, which I flattered myself would have been repealed at our last sitting, but, to our eternal disgrace it continues in force.
The interference of the Legislature in the private contracts of individuals cannot in my opinion by justifyed upon any plea whatsoever, and if I could have prevented the Act alluded to from passing by the resignation of my office as President of the Senate I would certainly have done it.
It is a proceeding
that must destroy all material confidence among ourselves, and forever blast our national character with foreigners.
Notwithstanding your disagreeable situation has been depicted in the most pathetick manner to your Debtors, it has produced as good effect, their hearts being stacked against my compassionate feelings: the advantage that men of rank, dignity and wealth take of the present law to avoid paying of their debts, is, in the highest degree scandalous, but, indeed, that nice sense of honor for which the inhabitants of South Carolina were formerly so justly celebrated, is, no longer to be found.
I have lately obtained a bagatelle payment of Mr. [illegible] on account of rent, Fifty pounds of which I will send to you addressed to Mr. [Illegible] by [illegible] that will sail soon for London
My Dear Nephew,
A sedulous attention in my official character during a long session of the General Assembly, and a nervous head-ach which was occasioned by it, have obliged me to delay inviting you longer than I should have done, if that had not been the case.
In my last letter of the 21st of January I informed you of the distressed state we were in respecting money matters, by reason of an infamous Law, which I flattered myself would have been repealed at our last sitting, but, to our eternal disgrace it continues in force.
The interference of the Legislature in the private contracts of individuals cannot in my opinion by justifyed upon any plea whatsoever, and if I could have prevented the Act alluded to from passing by the resignation of my office as President of the Senate I would certainly have done it.
It is a proceeding
that must destroy all material confidence among ourselves, and forever blast our national character with foreigners.
Notwithstanding your disagreeable situation has been depicted in the most pathetick manner to your Debtors, it has produced as good effect, their hearts being stacked against my compassionate feelings: the advantage that men of rank, dignity and wealth take of the present law to avoid paying of their debts, is, in the highest degree scandalous, but, indeed, that nice sense of honor for which the inhabitants of South Carolina were formerly so justly celebrated, is, no longer to be found.
I have lately obtained a bagatelle payment of Mr. [illegible] on account of rent, Fifty pounds of which I will send to you addressed to Mr. [Illegible] by [illegible] that will sail soon for London
I would send the whole if I had not contracted to have your House completely repaired, or, that I could depend upon receiving any more of Mr. [Illegible], but that I have no reason to expect, as, I am confident from the statement he has made to me of his affairs, and the determination of his debtors not to pay him, it will not be in his power to pay others until the Courts are open, nor, do I expect to receive a sixpence on your account before that period from any person indebted to you.
Rents in the mercantile part of the City have fallen more than one third, and will be still lower as there are a great number of Houses now vacant.
By the Ship Amelia who arrived a few days since I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 15 of Decem., but, as a great many have heared from their friends and correspondents by the same Vessel late in Febr., I am uneasy on account of your letter being of to old a date.
I am sorry that Mr. Hanford of Bristol should have troubled you with the application he did - he has no demand against your father's estate
Rents in the mercantile part of the City have fallen more than one third, and will be still lower as there are a great number of Houses now vacant.
By the Ship Amelia who arrived a few days since I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 15 of Decem., but, as a great many have heared from their friends and correspondents by the same Vessel late in Febr., I am uneasy on account of your letter being of to old a date.
I am sorry that Mr. Hanford of Bristol should have troubled you with the application he did - he has no demand against your father's estate
it is now sometime since I wrote to that Gentleman to explain the matter to him, and which I will do to you when I have the pleasure of seeing you.
Mrs. Grame is just returned from the Country, and to
whom I have presented your Love, she desires her's in return. I have also remembered you to the rest of your friends, who are all well.
Considering my Public character it does not become me to censure in severe terms the conduct of the Legislature, I must therefore request that you will keep my observations & sentiments respecting their proceeding to yourself.
I shall do myself the pleasure of writing you again soon, in the meantime I bid you Adieu
And am
Most Affectionately Your's
John Lloyd
April 15, 86
Mr. T. B. Pruitt
Answered
Mrs. Grame is just returned from the Country, and to
whom I have presented your Love, she desires her's in return. I have also remembered you to the rest of your friends, who are all well.
Considering my Public character it does not become me to censure in severe terms the conduct of the Legislature, I must therefore request that you will keep my observations & sentiments respecting their proceeding to yourself.
I shall do myself the pleasure of writing you again soon, in the meantime I bid you Adieu
And am
Most Affectionately Your's
John Lloyd
April 15, 86
Mr. T. B. Pruitt
Answered
Collection
Citation
Lloyd, John, “Letter to T.B. Pruitt from John Lloyd, April 15, 1786.,” Charleston Library Society Digital Collections, accessed November 4, 2024, https://charlestonlibrarysociety.omeka.net/items/show/1389.