Robert Carter writes to London merchant, William Dawkins, February 23, 1721, to chastise him seveerly for his impertinence in writing as he has done about the handling of the schooling of Carter's three young sons who were under his charge while in England at school. Carter reminds Dawkins that he owed his position in his firm to his apprenticeship with Arthur Bailey with whom Carter had lived while in England for his own education. He lectures Dawkins about the unnecessary sums he has spent on the school, and on jewelry, and refutes Dawkins' jest that Carter should attempt to keep up with Mrs. Heath in purchasing expensive jewelry. He informs Dawkins that he has directed his older son John to relieve Dawkins of the trouble of overseeing Robert, Landon, and Charles's schooling.

     Arthur Lee's Ship Arrivd hither two Days ago Yor. Lettrs.
by her wch. were only Copys (the Originals are not come to hand.) I have
That of the 20th. of Sept. carrys such an air of Pride & Waspishness
that It must not lye unanswerd,

     The Affair of my Children is handled as if they were
Dependant upon Yor. Charity for their maintenance, what they
have I expect to ^{doubt not I shall} pay for even to a farthing, You may believe
when I comitted them to Yor. care, I had a respect to Yor. friend
=ship and an Opinion of Yor. prudence, & Expected You would

     Before I sent them I consulted You what their
maintenance might Stand ^{me in} You tell me You believd £40 per ann
apiece, to put You in remembrance of this, forsooth must pass
for unkindness, and wear the harsh name of bringing You
under an Obligation Seeing You are a Gent. of Such a tender
touchy ^Eltivated nature that cannot Endure a plain Style ^{and think}
me so much Yor. Debtor for the oversight You have of my
Children, I have taken care to Ease You of that burthen
my Son hath ordrs. from me to remove them to another
person who will treat me and them with more Civility
If You want not me, I Shall lett You know I want You as little
Do me but Justice with the Concern of mine You have in Yor.
hands & I shall not value how soon I Shutt up all corres=
=pondency with You,

     Yor. next Parograph [sic ] is a note above Elah sure
You were then Sitting in Your ^masters Chair of State, with Yor. Rope
Makers and Carrmen about You and looking upon me as
one of Yor. Dependents and Inferiors, I shall come a little
to particulars, You had laid out my Money upon Several things
much beyond my ordrs. among the Rest You had laid me out
£20 extraordinary upon a pr. of Earrings & tell me in a
way ^of banter or rather Tantalizeing Mrs. Heath had a pr. cost a
Thousand pound, this brought in the word Muckworme which is
so offensive to Yor. nice Stomach, I had not the least thot.
of throwing any Reflection upon the Memory of the Dead nor
the Living, neithr. doth the Sentence carry any such Import
to my understanding, and if You want the Skill to Measure
the force of words You Should keep a Dictionary by You
but that You may have a true Idea of the Scope of the
word Muckworme I shall reccommend to Yor. peru=
=sal the fifth part of Doctr. Scotts Christian Life
where he's treating of the Excellency of the Soul, There
You'l find the Signification of this word and how

     Now pray upon the whole where was Yor. prudence or
rather manners to use me with the Language that was hardly
fitt for Yor. Footman if You keep one, You might remember I
was Yor. Masters Equall and all along have livd in as good rank
& fashion as he did, Even [illegible] when You were ^{something like} Graves's Cabin
boy and am old Enough to be Yor. Father, not to mention any
more reasons that Justly give me a Title to Yor. Deferrence I
Shall Conclude with telling You that I resolve to live in a Calm
quiet air the rest of my Days, & will be treated with respect by
those that Do my business, if You are so overgrown & Tumifyed
with the little Success You have had in the World, I would
have You vent Yor. vanitys upon those that are to be gainers
by You and not upon