Robert Carter writes to his son John, January 17, 1721,briefly reporting family news, and then turns to the newly-acquiredlease of the Northern Neck proprietary which he has just receivedfrom Micajah Perry in London. He informs John that he needs to havethe kind of power to make grants of land in the proprietary that hehad previously had from Lady Fairfax; he has sent a copy of thatpower to Perry, and directs John to have it signed before witnesseswho are coming to the colony.

     I writ to You plentifully in Novr. & sent You
Duplicates. Yor. Relations are all well at this time forwhat
I know pray God this may find You & Yor. brors. in the Same
s [ta] te Yor. Sister Page hath a Son born.

      I find in the lease Mr. Perry Sent me forthe Northern Neck [Proprietary]
You are one of the Witnessesindeed I desired him to make You
privy to that affair. I am affraid upon this fall of Tobo. It
will prove a verydisadvantagious bargain to me, I was always
Inform'd Collo. Jennings gave buttwo hundred & fifty pounds
per Annum for It there is norepenting I am now bound and
must do the best I can with It, onegreat perquisite to the
Estate arises from the Granting away thelands that are
Yett to take up I doubtnot the Lord Fairfax & Collo.Cage
for their own Interst as well as mine design'd me this Power
by their Lease & I shall proceed accordingly however I
would have a fuller power from them [I] have writ to
Mr. Perryabt. It & have sent him a Coppy [sic] of the power I
received frommy Lady Fairfax to Draw another by, (rebus
sicStantibus) I would have You be very carefull of this
affair & to have It executed before a Suff[icien] t Number of
Witnesses bound to thisplace, when I am to Expect Yor. Company [?]
Dont Yett knowif notthis Shipping to be sure the next It must
be, wth. my prayrs. for God's blessing upon You and Yor. brors.