Robert Carter writes to London merchant Thomas Corbin, 1705 July 6, that he has received several letters from him, and was pleased to learn that there will be a new governor for the colony. He reports that he has drawn a bill of exchange on Corbin for the purchase of slaves for the estate of Ralph Wormeley, that he is sending 20 hogsheads of tobacco from the estate's York River farms, and adds a lenthy remark about loading some 90 hogsheads on board the ship the Corbin and that Corbin should consult Micajah Perry for the details. He notes that Francis Lee has written that Ralph Wormeley's sons, then in England at school, have expressed their desire to return to Virginia which their mother favors and that he accedes to her wishes, but would not act without the approval of the other trustees of which Corbin is also one. He concludes by noting that he has received a pipe of wine from Corbin's brother Gawin and that Thomas Corbin should charge the cost to the Wormeley estate and he will settle with the estate which is indebted to him.
My Last was of the 26th of Febry & went by the Eagle Galley Capt.
Snelgrave I then advised you of the receit of your Letters of the 14th of October & the [ . . . ]
of Janr . I have since received yours of June date sent by the way of Pensylv[ania]
'twas near a 12 month on its Voyage I have also yours by the Levett
the postscript the most pleasing part of it wherein you tell me you bel[ieve]
there will be a Change
, Yor. Brother
& the rest tht. hold the places of Profitt ha[th]
been &c's. most Zealous Advocates & resolve to Continue soe I only wish [that]
they were Carving out their own fate & thn. I shall say God send thm. such a
Regimen to their lives end. The Confusions the Country is under at present y[ou]
will hear enough of from other hands wch. perhaps you'l give more Cre[dit]
to thn. mine but I'l leave this Subject --
Since the going of the Eagle Galley Yor. Brother & I have draw[n on]
you for £90 on accot of the Estate of Esqr. Wormeley
being for Negroes bot. for the [estate]
payable to Wm. Churchill
wch. desire you to Answer & place to [that account]
There is now Sent to you per the Levett what Tobo. was in Your [k River]
of 20 hogsheads if I forgett not I had likewise ordered Cudly
[ . . . ]
but he like a sorry mortall as he is for tht. Station hath [drawn]
a bill of Lading for wch. is inclosed the Impost
I have draw[n on you]
I might here entertain you with a Long Story relating to [ . . . ]
befriended her
all I could have loaded on her
90 ninety hhds with [my]
vessels & people for wch. I charge but 1/2 a Crown I beli[eve you'll]
find all the rest of his Tobacco Stands him in at Least [ . . . ]
Your Brother may give you an Accot. I was the Occasion [of]
Letting the freight so Low I therefore think it necessary pla [ . . . ]
deny it to you told him I would have no hand in't he sh[ould]
wholely answer for it himself Only tht If I shipt on your shi[p]
should be on those termes I have writt largely to Mr. Perry
[ . . . ]
head from whom you may have it --
Mr. Fra: Lee
in his last letter to me intimates the young W[ormeleys]
desire to come in & seems to Advise it himself their Mother is very [much]
for it & hath undertaken to put yor. Brother & her Brother Armi[stead]
upon writing for them & truly considering tht Ralph draws tow[ard]
manhood apace Seeing his fortune promises him no other thn. a Vir[ginia]
Life too long a taste of the town may do him harm & to be somewh[at]
acquainted with plantation Affairs before they come to be men i[s]
of Extraordinary use to thm. I have therefore so farr followed [their]
Moth[ers wishes?]
to give my Sentiments to Mr. Lee for the send[ing]