Robert Carter writes to his son-in-law, Colonel [Mann] Page, August 27, 1729, in Gloucester County concerning the need to get a letter on board a ship shortly to sail for London, and matters concering their copper mining work.

     my Son Charles telling me the Williamsburg will be
upon Sailing the latter end of this Week I thought it Necessary [to g] ive you
the Trouble by a Messenger of Some Letters I intend away by her [I know?]
you will Not want opportun [it] y to forward them

     I have Sent this sketch of a letter to go Mr Bradley a [bout ?]
Sending us Some labouring Miners I have Signed it. wil [l you if ?]
[. . .] it to sign it also, I am not fond of my own [. . .]
[. . .] alt to Say too Much rather than too li [ttle]
[. . .] every one must mo [. . .]
[. . .]

     We have now here near 400 weight of Ore if we [arrange ?]
to get it to your House time enough to go by the Sarah it wi[ll . . . ]
w [. . .] railes intend to barrel it in a day or two, perhaps it w [ill]
[be ready] to go in the Coach you Come up in Otherwise I believe will [. . .]
[. . .] we might get it to Setons, but Indeed I dont know [. . .]
[. . .] we have Bristol Ships enough to Send it by, but we [. . .]
[. . .] o there, we intend a Small box of it by [Captain] Sweet , who offers [. . .]
to Carry it, [but] of all mankind I think tht. port affords the most [. . .]
Insincere men

     I have not thought it Necessary to put into the power of a [mer]
-chant to make a bargin for us with the a head Miner, although Such a one we
must have if Shaw Comes down he Seems to be a person tht. [. . .]
[. . .] I believe [sic ] we may make a [. . .] bargain for our [selves . . .]
[. . .] will do for us, the rest I shall leave to our [meeting ?]

      [For want] of better entertainmt I [. . .]
[. . .] F [ry] ing pan by a Copy of my [. . .]
[. . .] things have been sent thither [. . .]
[. . . ha] ve not been backward thus far in pa [. . .]
[. . .] ed my Daughter Mary [. . .] Consider [. . .]
[. . .] to her Sister at Rosew [ell . . .]