J. W. RlVARDI TO THE GOVERNOR July 19th 1794

J. W. RlVARDI TO THE GOVERNOR.
I gratefully acknowledge having had the honor of receiving your last letter. Nothing could afford me more pleasure than the hopes of seeing your Excellency soon. Your presence will undoubtedly arouse the sleeping patriotism of the inhabitants here, and put a stop to those vile little cabalings so detrimental to public good. They disgust me too much to allow me to enter into particulars, and shall reserve that topic for one of our first conversations. In the meantime, I am happy to inform you that since I had the honor of writing to you last, Fort Nelson has gone on very well, considering our want of hands and money. The latter are now well acquainted with their business. The land lines are all indelibly marked. The platforms all placed. The Embrasures partly completed. It will now take a couple of weeks more to finish all but the turfing of the traverses: that business can be left then to a small party, and our main force be transferred to Fort Norfolk. By that time, I hope we shall have a pittance from the Country and everything will then go on better.
I have the honor to submit to your Excellency's inspection the plan I drew for Crany Island. Should Point Comfort be fortified, the battery of seven guns drawn in the Margin would be sufficient even without the outworks traced in yellow.
One hundred men would then be enough for the defence of that very important spot. In case, however, Point Comfort was left without defence, I should think eleven Guns necessary as marked in the plan.
If we had been amply provided with money, I should have proposed a Crown Work, but it would be very expensive and require too numerous a Garrison. Please to send me your orders on that subject, that I may bring them into execution as soon as possible.
Mrs. Rivarde returns her grateful acknowledgement to your lady for her kind remembrance, and longs much to have it in her power to enjoy the honor of her society. I am in great hurry, having the inclosed plan to finish. I therefore shall only beg you to believe me, &c.
P. S. — The money announced by the Secretary of War has not yet been transmitted, which hurts us much. I intended to send your Excellency a return of the workmen employed last week, but Mr. Graves could not be found this morning.

 

Fort Norfolk Documents

Before 1794, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865

Source of Information

CALENDAR of VIRGINIA STATE PAPERS and OTHER MANUSCRIPTS, FROM JANUARY 1, 1794, TO MAY 16, 1795, PRESERVED IN THE CAPITOL AT RICHMOND. ARRANGED AND EDITED BY SHERWIN McRAE and RALEIGH COLSTON, UNDER THE AUTHORITY AND DIRECTION OF Hon. H. W. FLOUENOY, SECRETARY Of THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, AND STATE LIBRARIAN. VOLUME VII. RICHMOND: J. H. O.BANNON, SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING. 1888