Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

[...]but only from eating of Salt meat.

I am setting my Countrymen a good Exam[ple]
in propogateing H[illegible] in this Country. It grows here to great p[illegible]
but the breaking it by hand is very chargeable in a Country wher
Labour is dear. In Muscovy where wages are no more than 3 Half
pence a day, it is not so necessary to have machines to do it, but here
it will require a mill that will carry ten or 12 Brakes, else this
charge alone will eat out all our Profits. I must therefore consult
your Lordship in this case, who are perfectly Skild in machinery, and
I beg you to instruct me in the Model of a Mill that may lighten
part of the labour, which must otherwise discourage so laudable [an]
undertakeing. I long to hear what success your Lord^p has had in [the]
Cochineal Project in South Carolina, because I shoud rejoice in every
thing wherein you can have any satisfaction, for I am with the g[reat]
est respect in the world my Lord your Lordships. & c.
[I beg]your Lord^p will please to remember the seed of the varennis
[torn]when you have an opportunity to get it.

[torn]have already writ to you ^upon Several Subjects, being unn
[rubbing]things of [torn] together, for fear some of them
[rubbing]crowd. Th[torn] very arbitrary custom
[rubbing]try, of enacting [rubbing]of his Birthri[ght][rubbing]
[rubbing]property with a hi[rubbing]against his will, [rubbing]
[rubbing]the Rules of Justice [rubbing]one, or more leading Men[rubbing]
[rubbing]Store-house upo[n an]other Mans Land, they[rubbing]
[rubbing]get 50 acres laid off for a Town, on[rubbing]
[rubbing]ment of Trade. This Sounds very pl[rubbing]
[rubbing]eason in it, if they woud really build a Town. B[torn]
[rubbing]sham, and we have above 20 of these Mock-To[rubbing] [rubbing]Inhabitant in them. Perhaps two or three wan [rubbing]erve the turn of some particular Persons withou[t]
[rubbing][p]ublick good. The Reason why I am so parti[cular][rubbing]
[rubbing]is. There was an act of Assembly past a few y[]ears[rubbing]
[rubbing]others to build publick Warehouses [at][rubbing]
[torn]
9. I erected a very convenient House at Shacco's over against the Falls, wh[torn]
so well Customed that it brings me in at least £50 p annum. But a p[torn]
full Family in those parts finding the Storage of their Goods (Settled by[torn]
to be very Chargeable, intend to push hard at the next Session[torn]
bly to have a Town laid out there, that they may build warehous[es][torn]
own, and perhaps if an act Shoud pass in their favour, the Public[torn]
give me Twenty Shillings an acre for 50 acres. Now behold the grea[t] [torn]
tice of this Proceeding. In the first place I woud not sell 50 acres in [torn]
place for £5 an acre, if I were not compelld to it, because tis in the[torn]
dle of my Land. In the next place what compensation shall I have for
£50 a year I make by the warehouses, when others will have such ware
as well as I. This is therefore an arbitrary way of Takeing away a m[torn]
Property. and the natural advantages of his Estate, without giveing
a reasonable Equivalent. I have often heard that a Parliament ca[torn]
thing, yet I have not known one single Instance of forceing a Man[torn]
with his Inheritance, unless it were to build a Castle for th[torn]
the Kingdome. Shall then a little Assembly, the very Shadd[torn]
of a Parliament, take upon it to act with less reg[torn]
than the great Pattern it affects to Copy after? [torn]
tyrannically ravish away a Mans Land, as Ah[torn]
because it lys convenient to some of its M[torn]
lations? Surely[torn]to be some[torn]
Kind put into [torn]that they do no[torn]
[torn]sembly that arbitra[torn] takes away an[torn]
[torn]asure Shall be known. It is true S[torn]
[torn]d, but it woud be more expedient to[torn]
than after it is born, and grown Strong. Be[torn]
the Persons in whose favour Such an act[torn]
upon the Land, haveing an act of assembly[torn]
as if the Act were not to be put in Execu[torn]
probation, no Expence woud accrue by vertue[torn]
[torn]firmd at home, and passt into a real la[torn]
[torn]falls are at no Inconvenience[torn] 10. there are Sufficient warehouses appointed by Law, to receive their go[torn]
for which they pay no more Storage than the Said Law directs. Nor is the[re]
any Complaint made by any body, either that the Storehouses are insu[f]
ficient, or any want of attendance to receive, and deliver out the Sai[d]
goods. so that in truth tho' the Publick-good be prettended in this matter.
Yet the private Interest of some particular Persons is the true spring [illegible]
gives motion to so unjust a proceeding. were there really any occasion fo[r]
a Town I woud lay one out into Lots of half an acre, and grant those
lots upon easy terms. I woud grant them for 50 years, (which is as long [as]
Houses will Stand in this Country) at 20 Shillings Fine, and one Shilling
[Per] annum Rent, so that the reversion and Inheritance Shall remain in
me and my Family. nothing sure can be more reasonable than this, a[s]
yet ^it is not approved of by the Persons that are at the Bottom o[f]
this Matter. I beg therefore that you will please to lay it before[torn]
Council of Trade, and obtain such an Instruction as soon as possib[le]
because I understand this Matter is like to be proposd to the next as
sembly. and if their Lordships refer it to their Lawyer, or to the At[tor]
ney Generall, pray hasten his Report with a fee, that the Instruck[tions]
may come by the first Ship. I intend to write to Colo. Bladen up[on]
the Subject, who I hope will think my arguments so reasonable as to
favour his Application. I give my Dear M^r Perry abundance of troub[le]
which I hope he will have the goodness to excuse, and to believe, that
I shoud be proud of any occasion of Shewing how truly and how
zealously I am your & C.

^{Mic. Perry}

I have writ to you several times, but coud never hear one
Syllable from you, so that I shoud have fancyd you dead and Buryed if my
L^d Orrerys Man Herbert had not wrote to W^m Wilkins, that you were well.
It woud have been very kind in you to have imformd me something concerning
my Chambers, and how M^rs Paris takes care of them. My friend Cap^t Posford
who brings you this letter, tells me, that when he calld there every thing
coverd with dust, and that the Chambers lay in a disorderly condition
For this reason I have determind to send for my Books [and] othe[r]
11. Goods that are in the Chambers, not knowing how long it may be my for
tune to continue in this Country. I therefore desire you and M^rs Paris to
deliver them to this Gentleman Cap^t Posford, who will bring them safe
to me. As for the books, I woud have them carefully packt up after the
following manner. Take the books out of each case, then pull the Shelves
all out, and pack the Books in the same cases, laying them flat in the case, as
you woud pack them in a Chest remembering to put Brownpaper next to the
wood, and between every book, otherwise the binding will bruise and fret [illegible]
pieces. Let no more Books be put into each case than is now in it, but fill
up with Shaveings, to keep the Books tight. Then lock up the cases, put
matts over them and Cord them very tight. The Shelves you may pack up
into a bundle by themselves. I have so much confidence in your kindness
to an old Freind, that you will be particularly carefull in the packing the
Books, that they come to as little Damage as possible. I woud allso desire your
assistance in packing up my other Goods, and this Gentleman will satisfy
you for your trouble. only the Iron Hearths and Stoves with their appurte
nanaces, I have desired him to sell for me, there being no coals burnt in this
country. In a year or 2 I intend to set about building a very good house
and if you are freindly in your assistance to this Gentleman I will have
all my Sashes of you, which may recommend you to more Custome among
my acquaintance. I heartily wish you all health and happiness being
very truly your &c.

I have orderd M^rs Paris to deliver up my Chambers when the goods
are removed to M^r Farshall the under Treasurer if he be liveing If
he be dead, I must desire you to lett them for me at as good a Rent as
you can.

^{Mr Spencer}

It was but last ^month that I had the pleasure of paying my
Complements to my Dear Cousen Taylor, and behold I am now going to
pelt her again. It is really as hard for me to baulk an opportunity of
Sending her my Love, as it is for Smartamira to baulk an occasion
of Shewing her wit, or for your old acquaintance Snapp to exercise
his Ill nature. I am sometimes provoked to wish my Head as fruitfully
where all things are forgot. M^rs Byrd will [torn]
self, and Joins with me in wishing it may ever[torn]
your favours. We intend to send for her by these[torn]
shall suddainly come over to fetch her. Our children[torn]
it will not be easy to move with so long a Train, and [torn]
easy to leave them behind. We had a thumping Boy last Sep[torn]
made number three by this venter, and we expect another in [torn]
if M^rs Byrd carrys her Dish even. At this rate what time have[torn]
make a distant voyage, who are so perpetually engaged in peo[torn]
this Infant country? We must therefore deny our selves the pleasure
seeing Dear M^rs Armiger, and the rest of our Freinds a little longer
in the mean time intreat them humbly not to forget us.

I have been favourd with a letter both from my Sister
Otway, and her Spouse, who, if any judgment may be formd by his write-
ing, appears to be a Man of good understanding. They say he is a pretty
young Fellow, and has more modesty and good Nature than commonly
Pretty Fellows are endowd with. I shoud be very glad that my Sister
might find all the happiness in him, which her generosity deservd
and her Inclinations imagind, tho' men are often such Ingrates, as
make unsuitable returns to their Female Benefacters, which is cert[ain]
ly the blackest of all ingratitude. But I hope Cap^t Otway will not [illegible]
one of these, but Study to oblige Her in every thing, but in resigning
his Commission. I think I know her so well, that she will never endure
his going abroad to his Post, where t'will be ^both his Duty and avantage
to repair sometimes. To this particularly I Shall ^{forgive him if he dos} venture to disoblige Her
especially Since the Commission will be a little necessary towards
maintaining them. Besides tis to be hoped he may rise in the Army, both
by his merit, and the Interest of his Freinds, which gos farther than
merit in these our Days.

I want to know whether it be my old Lady Effingham that
M^r Darcy has marryd, if it be, he has got the most valuable piece of [torn]
tiquity I was every acquanted with. He may depend upon it She'll [torn]
a third day in the week for him, which is the complement Sh[torn]
ously pays her deceast Husbands. Her [illegible] [torn]d the Stars then foretold, She woud live til[torn]
[torn]and was past into the ground, and then She Shou[torn]
[torn]ting all the seaven days in the week, for the de[torn]
[torn]y Spouses. Had it not been for this Horoscope, I believe[torn]
[torn]ave, venturd upon her my self in the seaventy ninth year[torn]
[torn]r age: but I loved her too well, to let her fast one day in[torn]
[ev]ery week upon my account. I am sincerely glad that Lady Hinchin[brook]
has bestowd her Charms to so much advantage, tho whoever She has mar
ryed, will have a great disadvantage in comeing after so agreable a Man
as Lord Hinchinbrook. A very unhappy Star has governd lately in youn[torn]
Island, which gives the Ladys such humble thoughts of themselves, as[torn]
make them Stoop very low in their amours, and rival their Maids; The In
fluence of this Constellation has been Strongest upon Females most re
marquable for pride, which Shews that Love and gameing are the gre
est Levellers in the world, they remove all distinction of Quality, an[d]
reconcile the most haughty of both sexes, to the familiarity of Footmen
and Pickpockets. What will your People of fine tast do for want of the
operas? How will their delicate Ears bear the croaking of our [illegible]
voices, after Faustina and Catsoni. It had been much more for their[torn]
et, if they had been transported no more than I was, with the yelping
of these forrein Syrens, who charmd, with the felonious intent to
devour us. This is to be sure was being exceedly Stupid, tho' I had the
comfort of knowing a Man of Genious in other things more Stupid tha[n]
I in this particular. I coud make a Shift to endure these Italian sere[nad]
ers well enough, but they put him out of all Patience, insomuch tha[t]
when his Servant happend to disoblige him, instead of threatening [to]
break his bones, or send him to the Devil, he used to swear he'd se[torn]
villein to the opera, if he livd til Saturdy. However I dont pity [torn]
People that were Opera-mad so much as those who us'd to be pleas'd wi[torn]
a more reasonable entertainment, that of a good Play. They tell[torn]
Booth is run mad, which is a greater loss than all the Italian[torn]
[blurred]rs put together. He was so just an actor, and performd his[torn]
good a grace and so sweet a voice, that he coud

15

[page 14 of the manuscript is missing]

[...]North Britain have found out some new invention to ease themse[lves]
in paying the Dutys upon Tobacco. they have extended their com
merce very much within these 2 years in this Country, and send mor[e]
Ships than ever. they give Such extravagant prices for that Commo
dity, as the market in England will not answer, nor I believe
of Scotland. nor are the good People of that ancient King[dom]
a humor to trade for loss any more than their neighbours. [torn]
must therefore have some secret advantages, and be assisted by some
refinement in Trade, which the dull English know nothing off. If Such
northern mysterys are endured the Southern Merchant, who pays the Custom
honesty, must fail, and the plantation-trade must be transplanted from
London to Glascow. They have a constant method of Loading their Ships
quite different from the English. they make the Hogsheads exceedingly
heavy which they put into the Hole, containing 13 or 1400 weight of Aro[illegible]
co Tobacco. this is 500 more than other people cramm into a Cask, and
must needs turn it black. those between Decks are not half that weight,
especially the uppermost Teer, which are very[torn] indeed. Now they [torn]
[...]

[The remainder of the page is torn off]

16

I am at present not able to send you an authentick Copy of it, I must re-
commend you to the Lords of Trade and Plantations in whose office tis re-
posited. the argument urgd in favour of this, is, that if the Planters be per-
mitted to plant as much Tob^o as they please, it must glut the market. tis
possible that may be true, but when people find that, so many as have prop[er]
Land for it, will draw off some of their people to make Hemp and other naval
Stores so necessary for our mother Country, which now pays for those Com^moditys
for the most part in mony. I hope my good intention will be a Sufficient
apology for troubling you with these things, in which I have no view but his
Majesty's service, and Justice to the fair trader. No doubt but your Surveyor
gen^ll thinks it his Duty to represent every thing to the board relateing to these
matters; And as he has taken up his residence here, and is a member of
the upper house of Assembly, he must be fully inform'd of them. but if he
has omitted it by any accident, you may depend upon these facts as Certain
and within the knowledge of every one that is acquainted with this Coun
try. It will therefore not be necessary to produce my letter lest it might give
offence, as truth you know very often will.

And now my Business is at an end, give me [...]

[The remainder of the page is torn off]

17

[...]over a fair Sample by the next Ships, and Shall be Sorry if it [were]
not as good a character as that which Col^o Spotswood sent formerly.
Since my last I find I did you wrong, in believeing you had not writ by
Cap^t Wigg, but that Commander kept the letters 6 weeks after his arrival
which was very disobligeing to no manner of purpose. the account you
send about Tob^o is very dismal, and the little prospect of its mending makes
it absolutely necessary to employ part of our increaseing Inhabitants upon
other things. the confineing people by a law to a certain quantity will be so la
executed, that it will only bind those that are honest and conscientious, which
are by no means the greater number. the last law of this kind was never execut[rn]
on the Eastern Shoar at all, and very sparingly in the northern neck, and [illegible]
absurd to tye up our own hands, while our Freinds of Maryland are at full
liberty to plant as much as they please. for these reasons I must own I wish
the act were repeald, as I woud have all unnuatural restraints upon the
industry of my Dear Country-folks, who have commonly so little that I woud
have nothing done to cramp it. many here are runing Mine-Mad, which pro
ceeds from a passion to grow rich very Suddenly, as the South Sea Phrenzy did
with you, and tis well if the consequence don't prove the same. our govern[ment]
is engaged with 4 other gentlemen in an Iron work: but the distance they will
have to transport their Iron to water-carriage will eat out all their profit.
Col^o Spotswoods work is at a Stand, all his Cattel being dead, and his Dam[torn]
carryed away. I am sorry for his ill-success but believe it will not mend till
he comes over himself to look after it. his Mathematical Relation I believe
is taken up too much with the Stars, to mind the business of this dirty Glo[be]
the Old President being born to be rich, has found a Copper-Mine upon his Land
with which he intends to rival M^r Schuyler in new Jersey. as for me, I intend
to keep above ground as long as I can, and confine all my Industry to the
Surface; and if Hemp Succeed, as I expect, I shall not envy the propriet[y]
of the gold mines lately discover'd beyond the River Gerando. my Femal[e]
family are all well at M^rs Perrys, and your service, and M^rs Byrd is in
fair way of adding one more to it in about 2 months. I am Sorry you[r]
honest endeavours that way meet with no better Success, but you may [com]
fort your self with this Maxime, that a Rich Man may adopt a more d[e]
serving Heir than he can get. be so good as to make my complements
to the Ladys, and ^{believe me}to be as much as any man alive your &c.

^{Mic. Perry}

18

by my Freind Cap^t Posford I troubled you with a letter ac-
companyed with a trifle of a consignment. I hope they got Safe to you long
ago, and that the disaster the poor ^Capt met with 2 years ago, will serve him for
his whole life. It were to be wish'd I had renewd our interrupted correspondence
at a time when Tob^o held up its head a little better: but I depend upon your
best endeavours and that you will do for me as well as your Neighbours. I
have no more Turtonian Accounts. this I told Cap^t Posford before he went,
who I trust communicated the same to you. that point being settled I
hope nothing can happen for the future to discontinue our good understand
ing. If you coud get me an honest industrious Husbandman that under-
stands country affairs very well for wages not exceeding ten pounds a
year, it woud be a great favour, and the sooner he comes the better. our
People multiply so fast both by importation, and natural encrease,
(every body marrying young) that we must think of Drawing part of
our hands from Tob^o I am going vigrously upon hemp and husbandry
with part of mine, and hope by my Success to encourage others to follow
my example. Others are tearing up the Bowels of the Earth in Search
of Mines, with greater hazzard and incertainty. I am with great truth &C

^Bradley.

I gave you the trouble of a letter last year, to let you
know how sensible I was of your Favours, and how much I wisht you might
succeed in all your publick-spirited undertakeings. I am only Sorry your hands
were tyed up from forcing that Peace, which has advanced very slowly by te-
dious Negociation. Tis a pity you han't met with half a dozen Gallions to
pay you for the vexation of being forc't to be a defensive Admiral only.
I fance tis very disagreeable to the Spirit of a true Briton, to be confined to
parry the thrusts of an Enimy, who pushes at him with all his might. There
ought to be a world of Prudence in those that issue such orders, as well as in
those whose post it is to execute them, and I hope a lasting Peace will justify
these cool and considerate Measures at last, tho it seems to be a long time a
comeing. The worst part of the story is, the loss of so many brave Fellows in
the west Indies by sickness, many more than we shoud have lost in any action
with the Spaniards, or in the course of a whole War. Thus we have sufferd
all the Inconveniences of a War, in the interuption of our Trade, and in
[torn]both of blood and Treasure, without allowing our selves the
pleasure [...]

27

[8 pages of the manuscript are missing]

[...]the Council in Carolina, which you so justly objected against his [be]
ing named at first, He will really desert the duty of his Place of
Surveyor Gen^ll of the Customes, by going to the mountains, which are
quite out of the verge of his Inspection. And if he be accus'd of this
desertion he will justify himself by saying he was commanded on this
service by the Government. I hope therefore the Government will be cautious
how they command any Person from his Duty. I beg both M^rs Page and you
will please to accept of the Complements of all this Family, and that you
will believe me as much as any man alive S^r your &c.

^Colo
Page

Before I had the honour to receive your letter, I had
made a Journey to Appamattux, to give the necessary orders about the 17 Men I
am to provide, with the Bread & Ammunition Sufficient for them. Some of the
men I saw, and in order to persuade them to go, I was oliged to let them know
that I was to command them. However I told them at the same time, that tho' I
had the command, yet they were to behave respectfully to the other Commissioners, &
endeavour to oblige them upon all occasions. This I shall repeat to them again when
I have got them together, and I hope you will please to think it Sufficient. But if
I am to tell them M^r Fitz William's hearing, that they are to do every thing he
shall order & direct (which are the words in your Hon^rs letter) it will be telling
them in plain terms, that they are to be under his orders & command. This I hope
you will not require me to do, contrary to what I conceivd was the Plan when I
had the honour to see you. To what purpose had that Gentleman 3 men of his own
appointment ordered to wait upon him, if all the rest are to do so too? This S^r , as I
have often hinted before, will create confusion in the Command, contention amongst
our Selves, and discontent among the men, the consequences of all which will be a
great obstruction to His Majestys Service. as to the treating Mr F[itzWil]
liam with Civility & good Manners, I am not conscious 28 otherwise. of the few things I had with me, he was allways askt to partake
in the first place, tho' he never was so kind as to ask me to partake of his. And
if the Men were in any Instance uncivil to him, it was more than I knew, tho' if a
Man be never so great, if he looks for extraordinary Respect from his Inferiors,
it will be but just to give them good words. Those I think are due even to Slaves.
Upon the whole matter S^r contrary to the treatment I have met with, I shall not
fail to be as civil as I can: but as for the command, I must humbly insist upon
it, and beg that you will not lay your commands upon me to make any other
Declaration to the Men, than what I have already done, because it will be in
consistent with what I have told them, & I thought, upon good authority. How
ever if it be necessary to oblige M^r Fitz William's in this matter, I humbly beg
your Hon^r will excuse me from going, and name some fitter Person to go along
with Him, whose happiness I shall not envy in the least. I humbly intreat you
will please to let me have your Commands by my Servant, that I may know what
I am to depend upon, because if M^r Fitz William's is to have any Share in the
Command, it will save both me and the Men the trouble of any farther Prepara
tion. I must humbly thank you S^r for your good wishes in favour of M^rs Byrd
Blessed be God she is very well, and will I hope be very able to support the Punish-
ment brought upon her, by the Curiosity & disobedience of the Mother of Mankind.
I have the honour to be with the greatest respect &c.

I shall readily obey Your Hon^rs Commands and
the Explanation you have been pleasd to put upon them. Nor did I ever intend
to be wanting in civility to M^r Fitz William's my Self, or to Suffer the men to be wanting
in any Service or Decency to Him. The Directions they have already had, I hope dis-
cover so much of my Intention, and I am extreamly sorry, that either You S^r or He
shoud have so ill an opinion of me as to believe I needed your orders, for what I shoud
have done as fully without them.

For my part I intend to be perfectly easy my Self, and shall do
29 every thing that is reasonable to make Him so. And if He will vouchsafe to do his
part, I make no doubt, but we shall return home better Freinds than we set out.
For now the Command is Settled, it must be ill temper in one of us at least, that
can create a Disagrement.

I have desird Maj^r Bolling to furnish us with 1200[^lb] of Biscuit,
that is, 200 of White, & 1000 of Brown, & have agreed with an Indian Trader
to employ his Horses to carry it. Besides this, I have orderd the men to furni[sh]
themselves with Provisions for ten days, which I judge will carry us clear-
of the Inhabitants, for which I have promisd them a reasonable Allowance.
After this we must depend upon the Woods for Meat, there being great Plenty of
Game at this time of year. For this purpose 3 of my men will be constantly
employd, who are as compleat Hunters as any in the Colony. The greatest
difficulty I have met with, is, to get 2[^lb] of good Powder for each Man, with pro
portionable Shot, those being very scarce at this time. I hope M^r Fitz William's
3 men will come provided in the same manner, and if He shall think of any
thing else, that may be necessary, that he will be so kind as to furnish it from
thence. I shall provide Salt for our Venison, and candles that we may see to eat
it: but for any other conveniences they cant be had in these parts. Thus I have
spared no trouble that may be for the service, and can have no greater pleasure
than to see it well performd.

I am extreamly concernd to hear by M^r Banister, that M^rs Gooch
has been indispos'd. I hope her illness will be as short as possible, and be a season-
ing for a long Succession of Health. I am with all respect in the world

^{Governr
Gooch}

I had the pleasure of your kind letter by M^r May
and am sorry S^r Richard stood so much in his own Light, as to resist the Charme
of £100 when he might have had it so cheap, as for the revokeing a rash order. I am
as much beholden to you for the pains you took to perswade him to his own Inter-
est as if you had succeeded. The Quantity of 6000 acers dont answer my Project
at all, However Since M^r Mayo thought fit to make so many Steps in my 30. name, I shall be content to agree to his Transaction, provided the Patent be right, and
have all the Requisits to make it valid. I think I may make 2 objections to it without
the Imputation of Nicety. The first is, that near two lines are expungd, tho not s[]
interely but they may be read. and the words struck out are such as give me some
alarm, Viz^t Which Land was taken up before the arrival of the L^ds Propri
etors order, forbidding the Sale of Lands. Now if there be such an order, how a[illegible]
safe that purchase their Lands after your receiving it? and how will my Patent
look with a Razure of these words upon it? The other objection is, that mention be-
ing made in the Patent of a Summ of Mony paid to the Receiver Gen^ll , his receipt
shoud certainly be indorst upon it, and indeed Col^o Little intimates so much to me
in his letter, which I construe to be a civil way of demanding a Fea for it. Now S^r
tis very possible you may be able to answer these scruples very easily: but you will
at the same time excuse me for starting them. When a Prudent Man parts with his mony
he loves to do it safely. Col^o Little I understand has a large Quantity of Lands like you[rs]
to part with, and demands no more than £8 a Thousand for it our mony, which I suppose
includeing ^your Fea, the Secretarys, and other charges, will swell to near Ten poands. Now I
shoud willingly purchase 6000 Acres more, if the whole charge do not exceed that
price, tho I shall rely on your Freindship to get it as much cheaper as you can. Only
pray remember to get his Receipt indorst on the other Patent for your land, into
the Bargain, as well as on that for his own. If you agree with Col^o Little for that
Quantity of Land, I have inclosd the Bounds of it drawn out by M^r Mayo, for
which you will be so good as to get a good Patent with the same conditions as that
you sent me, but without any Razure. This I confess is giveing you abundance
of trouble, but tis with the hopes of receiveing your commands when ever you
believe I can be of service to you. I write no more to S^r Richard, and have
given orders to the Messenger not to own that he was sent by me. Be pleasd to se[e]
31. the 2 letters inclosd to the Gentlemen to whom they are addrest. I must conclude[torn]
with returning you my humble thanks for the hopes you are pleasd to give me of[torn]
[co]mpleat Map, and for the Plants you sent me, by M^r Mayo, Begging you at the same
time to believe, that I shoud rejoice at any opportunity of shewing how much I am
&c

After our mouths are thaw'd, and our Ink begins [to]
flow, which dos not happen till the winter is over, My Dear Couzen Taylor may expect to
receive the first fruits of the Spring. The foremost Ship is now comeing Over, and I must [not]
either in conscience or Inclination neglect sending my love to Her by the very first opp[or]
tunity. Have not you a mind to make me exceedingly vain, when you tell me with that gra
[torn]that my Letters make the Entertainment of your solitary hours? I am faign to str[torn]
down my Pride, which is but too apt to swell, when any of my Performances are liked by
those, to whom I desire most to do any thing agreable. But pray how came you to fa[illegible]
[y]ou shoud never see the Author of those letters again? You must not imagin that, be
cause I mention nothing about comeing Over, for depend upon it when ever I come I
will appear so unexpected to you, that you shant be able to tell for an hour whether
I am an Apparition, or real Flesh and Blood. Nay if it be possible too, I will surprise you
when you are alone; therefore pray keep a steady presence of mind, and dont discover too
much disorder at so unlookt for a visit. Indeed M^rs Byrd will hardly be in a Travelling
condition till she's towards 50. I know nothing but a Rabit that breeds faster. It woud
[be]ungallant in a Husband to dissuade her from it, but it woud be kind in you, to preach
[to ]her upon that Chapter as a Freind. She was delivered of a huge Boy in September la[st]
and is so unconscionable as to be breeding again, Nay the learned say she is some months
gone. The truth of it is, she has her reasons for procreating so fast. She lives in an In-
fant country which wants nothing but people. Then she is apprehensive I should
marry again, if she shoud start first out of this world, but is determined to prevent
[it] by leaveing me so great an Encumbrance. Is not this a little spitefull, to en[torn]
32. my happiness when she can be no longer a sharer in it? I know no remedy but
to make a Trip to England some times, and then she must be content to lye
fallow til I come back. But then she'll be revenged of me, and redeem
her lost years by haveing 2 at a time when I return. I was absent from her
no less than ten weeks together, since I had the pleasure of writeing to
you. I carryd the Dividing Line betwixt this Country and Carolina
quite up as high as the Mountains. In this Journey we past thro the
most Charming Country I ever saw. Our Dyet was Venison, Bear, & Wild
Turkey, with all which the woods Supplyd us plentifully. Our Drink
indeed was water but as pure as the waters of Paradise. Tho' we car-
ryd nothing but Biscuit along with us, yet we were Supplyd by
Providence with great plenty and variety of meat every day. No
great distress befell either me or the People I commanded the whole
Journey, and tho' we met with a great deal of fatigue, yet the Charms
of the Country, & the many Romantique Prospects made us plentifull
amends. If the People of England coud but have a just notion of this
fine Landskape, your Island woud quickly be dispeopled, and the Par-
liament like that of Ireland, woud be forced to prohibit people from
transporting themselves out of their own Country. I have had a Letter
from our Sister Otway lately, and another from her Spouse, who by his
writeing seems to be a Young Man of good understanding. Since She
has embarqued herself in the troublesome Sea of Matrimony, without
laying in necessarys for so long a voyage, She must be content to live
at short allowance. I am sorry with all my heart, that Passion had
more power with her Lad^p than prudence. But since
none of us can untye the Knot She has tyed, we must e'en advise and
assist her to make the most of a looseing Game. I hope he will prove
a kind Husband, and make amends by a most engageing Behaviour
for the Shortness of his Fortune, tho' I shoud be sorry if he carryd
his Complaisance so far, as to part with his Commission. That woud
give me no great opinion of his Understanding, because tho' [illegible]
many obligations to her, yet he has none that require him to be [a]
fool besides he has Relations that are of some Rank in the Army;
By then he may hope to be countenanced and assisted in such [torn]
34 [torn]est good, that can be done to a Place that wants[torn]
[torn]tiplying our Species, haveing no less than three Ch[torn]
[torn]a fourth on the Stocks. Amongst all these we have[torn]
[torn]et, the rest are all Spinsters. my Habitation has the n[torn]
[torn]the prettyest Seat in this Country, I do all I can to make it[torn]
[torn]M^rs Byrd, who was so generous as to come over along with m[e to]
a Strange Land. I have a Library to entertain me within Doors, and
Gardens to amuse me without. I have lately planted a Small vin[torn]
to Shew my Indolent country Folks, that we may employ our Indu[torn]
upon other things besides Tobacco. Above 20 sorts of vines have [been]
sent me from other Countrys, which are all in a flourishing condi[tion]
and I am endeavouring to get more. what I mean by so many kin[torn]
is, to try which agree best with the Soil and the Clymate, and which rip[en]
latest, that of those I may plant out a larger vinyard. I wish it we[re]
possible to procure some Cuttings of the Tokay vines to be sent h[torn]
a proper time of year. If you have any opportunity of doing m[torn]
a favour, I shoud be much obliged to you.

But the Darling of all my Projects is the makeing
of Hemp in this country. I am so out of Humour with Tobacco (which
is made in too great a Quantity) that I have turnd great part of my
force towards Hemp. I have met with divers disappointments, especially
in the Seed that has been sent me, which have Stoppt my Carreer, never-
theless I have now got the better of them all, and this year Ship three
Tuns of as good Hemp as ever was seen, twice as long as that which
comes from the East Country. I have sowd ninety Bushells this Spring,
which is now growing, and in all appearance will yeild a plentifull
cropp. There is however one difficulty that discomfits me a little, an[d]
that is the great Labour it requires in the breaking it. Wages are [ex]
ceeding cheap in muscovy, which makes it less chargeable the[torn]
here wages are 6 times dearer, which makes that a [torn]
no remedy for this but to contrive a Mill to carry[torn]
Breaks, that may shorten the l[torn]
can't tell whether any thing[torn]
35. [torn]s, but it appears to be very practicable. I know[torn]
[torn]to supply me with a Modell of such an engine, than[torn]
[torn]country, where the art of easing of labour is so much[torn]
[torn]roved. I am ^also at a loss how to pack it to the best advan[tage][torn]
[]ales, which makes me now in the begining press it into [torn]
Now perhaps you will think me very extravangant: but Tim[torn]
with us, and I believe the Hemp will be less liable to Damage[torn]
Ships this way than in Bales.

Thus S^r I have taken the liberty to trouble you with
all my little affairs, which I am in hopes you will forgive, because it
was in obedience to your Commands. Otherwise I Shoud have been cau
tious of saying so much on so ungracious a Subject as that of ones
self. However I am perswaded it will be less disagreable to so much
good Nature as you are Master of, to hear the Story of one who had the
early advantage of your good example and advice. If there be any
good in me, you had a hand in the forming my mind to it, and it m[ust]
be some pleasure to you, that I do well because I was under your ca[re]
our acquaintance is now of more than 40 years standing, and I beg it[torn]
not drop while we continue in the same world. When I go where all[torn]
are forgot, I must forget you, and not before, til when, I shall think
with pleasure on so good a Freind, and be glad of any occasion of
shewing with how much Respect and how much gratitude I am yours.
If this Ship shoud come directly from thence again, I shoud be glad of
an awme of good Rhenish, and send the account if it to Mr Perry
If Mons^r Texelius be stil liveing, make my complements to him.

^{Mr [illegible].}

refined benevolent & humble

It was mighty good in my Dear M^rs Armiger to entertain [torn]
with so historical a letter, to let us into the Transactions of the Towne.[torn]
[torn]me a more agreable piece of news, than that you and you[r][torn]
[torn][dau]ghters are well. I must needs be very sensible of every thing[torn]
[torn]you near when I am moved both by the Sentiments of gra[titude]
[torn]ess to my Daughter I shall allways
[torn]carry the memory of it to the [torn]
[...]

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