Robert Carter writes to London merchant Francis Lee, July 6, 1705, that he has received a letter from Lee in which Lee had written that the late Ralph Wormeley's sons, then in England at school, want to return to Virginia. Their mother favors their return, Carter reports, but add that he wants to be sure that all of the trustees of Wormeley's sons agree to this step that will so profoundly affect their futures. He states that Lee should send them home if all agree, and that it probably will be best for them because the estates that will come to them will allow only a living in Virginia business which will not satisfy them if they remain in England until they are men. Lee should equip them properly, but not too richly, for their station in Virginia when sending them.
My Last to you went by the Eagle Galley Acknowledging the receipt of
your Letters & Accounts to that time I have Since received a letter from
you which have mislaid & cannot at present possibly find the dat [e I]
have forgot but in the Close remember you tell me the Youths
have a
desire to come home & seem to give your opinion it would be be [st]
for them Their Mother
urges Strongly to have them . sent for, ha [s]
undertaken to put her Brother [Henry]
Armistead
and mr. [Gawin]
Corbin
upon writing for them I have wrote to mr. [Thomas]
Corbin
in
England & I would have all consenting to a thing that will so [con]
siderably affect their future welfare If others agr [ee]
it very advisable & accordingly direct you to sen [d them]
by the first good Ship after the receit hereof for [ . . . ]
their fortune promises them no other but a Virginia . L [ife & therefore]
an Insight into Virginia Business will be of consi [derable value to]
thm. when they come to be men on the other Side [keeping them too]
long in Engld. will give them a disrelish to their [positions]
all their Lifes after & make the Drudgery of Vi [rginia]
a trade too mean for their thoughts & the rem [embrance of]
pleasures they have left behind them lye too [heavily]
ever after This what I have always observe [d of]
those have been kept in England until their manhood [ . . . ]
when you send them Let thm. be Equipped Suitable to their [station]
& Circumstances not too gaudy or rich yet Genteel & in such a manner
[you]
think they may fairly be maintained in without deb [it]
to their Estates pray give my kind Love & Service to [them]
& accept the Same Your Self as from one that is Sir
Your hearty well wisher
Affectionate Countryman
and humble Servant
per the Corbin
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