George Morgan to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)
Prospect Sept. 19th. 1786
Dear Sir

I have just now received your favour of the 17th. Mr. Pyne, without any other Intimation than the Apprehension of want of Health, had informed me by Letter of your Seperation; & since their Arrival here to look for a House, Mrs. Pyne has assigned the same Cause & no other that I have heared of; adding that One Night lately Mr Pyne had a Convulsion Fit,—& her Apprehensions of a Return, in so remote a Situation from Help induced their Resolution to give up all Advantages of the Farm &c.&c. I have myself indeed had no Conversation with either Mr or Mrs. P. on the Subject & have been obliged to decline My solicited Aid in looking out for a House for them—This I did by Letter before their Arrival, & verbally since—I had a good Excuse; Vizt. the extreme Illness of my Child—but I confess to you, that, imagining the Cause of your Seperation as it has turned out, I wished to decline the Business, without giving Offence.

I am a little surprised that you do not recollect my recommending to you seperate Houses & seperate Families—You gave up more advantageous Terms for the sake of being, as you hoped, agreeably accomodated in Mr Pynes Family—Without knowing what has turned out to be the Case I had my Opinion, or Doubts, upon the Subject. Not being desirous to create a Jealousy in your Mind, nor to be too officious, I declined saying more than I did—Yet I recommended to Mr & Mrs. Pyne as well as to yourself, & very warmly too, the having a seperate Family. I acted on both Instances, from a sincere Desire to promote a lasting Connection between you, & I told Mrs Morgan, at the Time, my Fears of the very Cause of your Seperation. In all other Respects I am sure that your Connection might have been made a profitable one, by employing the Capital I recommended. This now being at an End & you left in a Situation very different from your Expectations, it remains to determine what you will do with the Farm—I have a Tenant in my Eye for you; who, were I in your Situation, I should like for myself, so far as relates to Honesty, Temperance, Abilities Attention & good Temper—His Wife is I believe very much of the same Disposition & of an honest plain Country Family—I have sent for him to know if his present Engagements would prevent his agreeing with you, nearly on the Terms you propose—You shall have his Answer with this if I can get it in Time, without supposing you under any Obligation, until you make your own Agreement. From the Knowledge & good Opinion I have of this Man, I would wish to serve him, by recommending him to you; & by doing that, I believe I should also do you a Kindness—He is not however perfect—but his Deficiencies are not criminal, & shall be made known to you before you agree. I have no Farm Servant, that would suit you—Nor will you get any one to answer your Purpose if you mean to rely upon his Management. There is one here who has a Wife & Child who has been well recommended to me—both have worked for me & mrs Morgan, much to our Satisfaction for the little Time we had Employment for them. The extreme Illness of my Child prevents my expressing a Wish that you should at this Time come to spend a Day or two with Us—But if you can do it some little Time hence or take up with Tavern Au[?]dalions, now, I believe you could not do better.

I hope the Discouragements you have met with will not deter you from a rural Life—If your Ambition & Prospects do not induce you to adopt a different Line, you may secure to yourself, on your Farm, every moderate Wish, with Peace, & Independence.

You will soon be able, with Confidence, to direct your Farm, better than any Tenant or Partner will do it for you—I remain with great Regard & very respectful Compliments to your Grandfather, Your very &c

Geo: Morgan.

When I began this I thought to have written but a few Lines or I should have taken more Paper.
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