Appendix, N 4 



managed and under-let. An agent, who at the same time 

 was a tenant, had been employed by the dowager Lady 

 Fairfax, to superintend her concerns in that quarter of the 

 world; and he is said to have abused her confidence, and to 

 have enriched himself and family, as is too frequently the 

 case, at the expense of his employer. Lord Fairfax there- 

 fore wrote to William Fairfax, Esq., his father's brother's 

 second son, who held, at that time, a place of considerable 

 trust and emolument under government in New England; 

 requesting him to remove to Virginia, and to take upon 

 himself the agency of the Northern Neck. With this re- 

 quest Mr. Fairfax readily complied; and, as soon as he con- 

 veniently could, he removed with his family to Virginia, 

 and settled in Westmoreland county. He there opened 

 an agency office for the granting of the proprietary lands; 

 and as the quit-rent demanded was only after the rate of 

 two shillings for every hundred acres, the vacant lands were 

 rapidly let, and a considerable and permanent income was 

 soon derived from them. Lord Fairfax, informed of these 

 circumstances, determined to go himself to Virginia, to 

 visit his estates, and the friend and relation to whom he was 

 so greatly obliged. Accordingly, about the year 1739, he 

 embarked for that continent; and on his arrival in Virginia, 

 he went and spent twelve months with his friend Mr. Fair- 

 fax, at his house in Westmoreland county; during which 

 time he became so captivated with the climate, the beauties 

 and produce of the country, that he formed a resolution of 

 returning to England, in order to prosecute a suit, which 

 he had with the Crown, on account of a considerable tract 

 of land claimed in behalf of the latter by Governor Gooch; 

 (which suit was afterwards determined in his favour;) and, 



