Robert Carter writes to Lord Fairfax, the under-age owner of, and William Cage, trustee for, the proprietary of the Northern Neck, in England, February 13, 1721, concerning his assumption of the lease and his attempts to getEdmund Jenings, the former agent, to settle his accounts. He requests a stronger power of attorney concerning the granting of lands as agent, and informs them that he has sent for their review a copy of the power he had held when he formerly was agent and hopes they will send him an equally strong one. He also needs the power to deal with escheats which he does not presently have. He intends to communicate often, as he hopes they will, but notes he will send the more tedious details through Micajah Perry and his son John.

     The honor of Your Letter of the 18th of September
reached my hands but two days ago with one to Colonel Jenings
which I shall take care to let him have in a Short time.
The Lease You Executed with Mr. Perry with Your power
of Atturney has been with me some months, I immediately
made a demand upon Colonel Jenings of what Arrears
were due to You he Assured me more than once that he
gave Effectual orders to his Son at his Departure to settle
that matter to Your Satisfaction and I hope he will
have so much Regard to his own honor not to want
any Compulsory means to oblige him to do You Justice,
if there should be a necessity for it, You must Arm me
with an Attested Account of Your Claim sworn to before
a proper officer in the presence of Witnesses coming
here, and Your clear directions I would have what Steps I
am to take, I have hinted all this to Mr. Perry Our
Courts of Law are dilatory and if he will be obstinate
you may be kept out of Your money a Considerable time
but sure his own Reputation will be more dear to him
than to carry me into any of that sort of Trouble -- --

     Both the Lease and Your power lie unproved
until the Witnesses Arrive. however I have appointed

     I Do Assure Your Lordship I am like to have
a very hard bargain of It, It was always Bruited
here Colonel Jenings paid but £250 per Annum he
has had the greatest luck of any man alive Tobacco has
held up all his time and now Its become very mean
The Commodity that most of Your Rents are paid in
I remember two or three of the last Years I was in the
business before I was not able to make of the Estate
£300 per Annum salary and all and I fear we are very
near Such bad times again I shall not take upon me
to discant upon Colonel Jenings 's proceedings Any further
than to Claim what is my Due from the Expiration of
his Lease but I may be fairly Justifyed in this General

     I am inform'd That the Yearly Rent due to the Crown
of £6"13"4 is in Arrear since my last payment if it be so
I shall desire direc [tion] s. who shall be answerable for this
money & certainly Its highly necessary It should be paid
by somebody being the Reserv'd Consideration of my Lord
Culpeper's Grant.

     Another thing 'tis proper to Inform Your Lordship
of the Legal way of passing Escheats is first by finding an
office by an Escheat Master and twelve men now
this power I have not as Your Atturney, I cannot order a
sheriff to Summon a Jury for this purpose unless I had
a Commission from the governor here or a proper qualification
from home with Liberty to appoint Deputy Escheaters
Your Direc [tion] s Assistance & Advice upon a proper Method
for this Affair I strongly desire as I shall always Your
Deliberate answers to the Entertainments I shall have
Repeated occasions to trouble You with however the more
tedious Storeys Shall come through the hands of Mr.
Perry and my Son with whom I request You will
hold a Communication, I shall Study to approve
my self,