Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Unknown Person letter to Alexander Spotswood, 1711 November [1712 August 1?]

In november last I wrott a large Letter to you to have been
delyvered to you by [Mesr] Mc farlane my wifes youngest sone of her
former marriage and therein recommending him to your affectionat care
and I doubt not but by this time the Letter is come to your hands
—Designing to miss no opportunity of wryting to you this serves
to signify that all friends here are in their ordinary state and
condition and that I heartily ^desire to hear from you more frequently—
T'other day a s[illegible]fe gentleman expressing very kindly a wish of
his own and of the other gentry that our family might recover the
estate of Dearsie which is now lyke to be sold and after inquiry I found
that albeit our grand uncle Sir John the bishopes eldest sone sold it
for 10000 £ Ster/ yet it could now be bought for 6000 £ Ster/
It is and estate of about 280 £ Ster/ p annum and is reckoned one
of the pleasantest seats in that Country And I sincerely wish
that you were inclined to bring about the recovery and to employ
some of your riches that way and thereby put p Let people see
the ryse of the ancient Lusture of our family which has been
under Cloud these many years past This affair could be so managed
that the price could ^might be remitted in small [sommes] and thereby the
fashine of paying it all at once, removed And whereas this matter will
not admitt of delayes (for other persones have ane eye to this estate)
I desyre that with the first opportunity you would let me ^to know your
pleasure therein And that you would take in good part and throw off
all sinistrous suspition of my haveing a selfe intrest in this proposall tho
at the same time I must own that I would wish you made purchases in Brittain
rather then in America And that as you are the richest branch of the family

you [may] employ your powers to render it illustrous, I am &c. &c

Supposed to be dated in
Nov^r 1711 from the [Generalls]
[answer] 1^st August 1712

I thank you for your Letter 6. August last and for the—
Reguard you seem to have of my Recommendations which makes me
give you another for a friend—In September 1716, a boy called
Archibald Campbell was putt on board a ship called the [Greenuik]
James Watson master who intended him to be a servant to
[Lomucks] work in Virginia and James Lees work in Glasgow ^company being—
combined, stand obleidged to returne the boy to Scotland , I recom-
mend him to your favour And that you would assist and councill their
agent and factor that they might ease with ease and without loss—
recover tht boy from his master to be sent to Scotland If the
governours aid be need full Upon your making known to him that
I interest my selfe in the affair I hope he will not be [wanting]
for [deleted] ^{the getting} this matter effectuall will be obleidgeing to a gentleman
to whom I owe favours and shall be reckoned and acceptable
Service Done to.

I have given you the onely trouble in
this matter Not Judging it proper in me
to writ to my Cousine Directly about it
Yet if need full you may let my [concerns]
herein be known to him—I am affraid the addrese of my [Letter]
to the governour is not respectfull enough I disire you [illegible] give ^me the
forme of one that ^wch is usuall, that on this behalfe I need ^may not transgress—
good manners