Robert Carter writes to his old friend William Robertson, clerk of the Council, January 9, 1728, requesting him to use his influence to help Carter choose the sheriff in the northern area of the Northern Neck, and to have him urge the clerks of three counties to pay the fees due for ordinary and marriage licenses.

     It hath bin no Small pleasure ^frequently to me to ^have hear
of your deliverance so well from your late most Calamnitous
Disaster and that your wooden Legg is now become so familiar to
you that you are Qualifyed for all the parts of your business

     I am now under a Strong fitt of the Gout and have bin so
for these Ten days which takes from me all hopes of giving my
Attendance at the first of the Assembly a very threatening Season
for a broken Constitution to be abroad in, You know Colonel Drysdale
always favourd me and I may Say Colonel Spotswood before him
in the Nomination of our northern Sherif which is some kindness
to me in geting in my Qt. rents and I would flatter my Self
to meet with the Same Indulgence under the present regment It may
lye in your way to Drop in a Seasonable word upon this Occasion
and if it does I dare say you will not slip the Opportunity In de=
feating any Attempt may be made from Some other Qr. --

     Some Clerks that lye in your way ^{to call upon} have not yet paid
me their Ordinary and Marriage Lycences to wit Isle of wight
Northampton, and Surry, if you will give your Self the trouble of
managing these Gentlemen You will oblige my Lord Orkny
as well as my Self , I have already writ to Mr. Hickman ^but had no
answer from him I wish you a Compleat recovery and am