Robert Carter writes to London merchant Thomas Corbin, August 20, 1706, that he has written before by an earlier fleet to send bills of lading for tobacco sent on consignment for the benefit of Ralph Wormeley's estate, and noting that he regrets that Wormeley's son Ralph is angry with the estate's trustees who have limited his expenses but that limits are necessary. He complains that Corbin has joined other merchants in opposing the Virginia practice of prizing tobacco, and suggests that Corbin and others must help planters find a way to make money that will do more than pay the duties. Virginia has received news of victories in the war, and the political conflicts in the colony are subsiding thanks to the work of the new governor, Edward Nott, but will continue if the former governor, Francis Nicholson, is allowed to continue to stir trouble in England. He closes by admonishing Corbin that he should not have joined his brother-in-law, Edmund Jenings, in a memorial against the colonial Council because the Council in the presence of the governor had repudiated it. Carter adds that he writes this only as a friend and that he will not be active in political affairs again.

      [I] have written to you by the Fleet wherewth sent you
[Bill] s of Lading for the Tobaccoes I had shipped to you on [the]
Accot of Esquire Wormelys Estate & advised you of the
Bills then drawn on that Account , Yours per the Corbin
of the 29th of Novr. & 2d of Febry came to me but yesterday
I am Sorry Monsieur Ralph [Wormeley] is angry with us if it be for
ordering his keeping to be within Suitable limits We
must take no notice of it he will in time see his own folly.

     I find you are got into the Strain of Complaints against the
prizing of Tobacco as well as the rest of the Merchants & let the
Tobacco be light or heavy or what it will you are all in
the Same tune, the design I almost think is to discour=
=age the practice of prizing Tobacco Your next
work will necessarily be to find out ways for

     It appears you have been active in a memorial on
behalf of yor brother Jennings against the Council it
had been well you had taken care before hand that you
had truth for yor foundation, Mr Secretary was
told by the Council in the Presence of the Governor when it was read he had wronged thm
& charged them wth a falsehood to which he did not
know how to make any Answer, how far such a
proceeding may tend to yor Intrest its not my business
to consider for my part I shall endeavour to be
easy & rather than be ingaged in new quarrels
be content to Set down a private man & be no
more concerned wth the public while I live I
write thus freely to you as a friend not intending you
should make use of my name upon any of these Accots
only for yor own Information & I hope you will not
make any other Construction I give you my humble
Service & remain

Yor affectionate Countryman &
most humble Servant


I almost forgot to take notice of the young Wormelys coming in next fleet its agreed by all concerned that Capt.
Graves shall have the care of them.


Sr. herein is an Invoice for some g [oods for the use of that estate I de] sire may be sent in per some good Ship to
our River