Letter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry, September19, 1720

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   by Edmund Berkeley, Jr.

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Summary

Letter from Robert Carter to Micajah Perry, September 19,1720

Robert Carter writes to London merchant Micajah Perry, September19, 1720, sending condolences on the loss of his son and partner,Richard. He then comments on a good sales report for some of histobacco, expressing hope that the remainder will sell as well. Hereports the very good and plentiful crop of tobacco in the colonyand urges Perryto have Captain Bagwell return as soon as possiblebecause the crop will be ready early. He tells Perry that he has sentcopies of Perry's letters concerning Richard Foote's business toFoote, and notes that his son John promises more economy in hisliving in England which, Carter writes, will be necessary because agood crop will lower prices. He concludes that there are no politicalevents of note worth reporting other than the recent campaign formembers of the Virginia legislature.

Letter from Robert Carter to MicajahPerry, September 19,1720

-1 -
Rappahannock, [LancasterCounty, Virginia]
Sepr. 19.1720
Messrs. Perry

I have received Yor. Lettrs. of April date Several Ships
have slipt by my house this last monthwth.out giving me the
opportunity of writing I heartily Condolewth. You for the
loss of Yor. Son sogreat & good a prop to our Trade
The mercy You Enjoy Inhaving a Grandson to Step into
his room is beyond Compare

-2 -

I take notice You had sold some more of my Tobo. & am inhopes
the rest Fetcht the Same pricesall seem to agree Stript Tobo.
wouldhold Its own -- The last Crop we reckon was not
larger thanthe preceeding Year how we Shall come off wth.
that time musttell us I believe Yor. Intelligence from
all parts this Yearwill be That we have genly. a plentiful
harvest, & the best Tobo. that has bin madethis many Years
I promisd mySelf tohave the neatest parcell ofTobbo. to send
You I have bin Master of a long time & Shall do myEnde
=avour to handle It wth. all Imaginable niceness, we are
big wth. hopes You will be able to make Captn.Bagwell a
Forward Ship lett himcome as soon as he will I think
he cannot lye Idle for want ofbusiness our Crops are very
Early & will be cheifly [sic] ready for Shipping on this sideChrist=
=mas --

Yor. Lettrs. relating to Mr. Footes Affair I send
him Copys of, Yor. next Intelligenceof that matter will
gid to him wt. Cource [sic] will be most proper for him
[. . .]

My Son makes me Large promises to
keep his Expenses wth.inmy Limitation, am afraid the
blessing that Attends us, in A plentifull Year will have
theConsequence of a decline upon our Markett wch. of
Necessity must makeus lowr our Topsails.

As to polliticks we are all Easy atpresent, an
Assembly isto meet the Second of Novr. mighty Struggles
There has bin Through the Country who Shouldbe our
Parliamt. men but there I leave them & Conclude

Sirs
Yor. most humble Servt.

NOTES

Source copy consulted: Robert CarterLetter Book, 1720 July-1721 July, BR 227, Huntington Library, ArtCollections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California. Printed:Wright. Letters of Robert Carter. . .. pp. 46-47.

Robert Carter generally used a return address of"Rappahannock" for the river on which he lived rather than"Corotoman," the name of his home, on his correspondence, especiallyto merchants abroad. The county and colony have been added forclarity.

Carter's clerk, having addressed many letters to Micajah andRichard Perry, automatically wrote "Messrs. Perry" into the letterbook when Carter began dictating.

[1] RC sends condolences to Micajah Perry for thedeath of his son and partner, Richard, who had died in April 1720.Price. Perry of London. . . . p.63.

[2] A Captain Thomas Bagwell is found in earlierVirginia records as captain of the Levett in1705. (McIlwaine. Executive Journals of theCouncil. . . . 3(1705-1721): 15. )

[3] Richard Foote (1666-1724) of Stafford County,nephew of Nicholas Hayward, developer of the BrentTown speculation in the Northern Neck Proprietary. Foote'sfather was one of Hayward's partners, and a successful merchant inLondon. The son lived in the Brent Town tract, and represented theowners in Virginia. See the letter to Foote of this same date.

This text revised January 30,2009.