Robert Carter writes to Weymouth merchant Edward Tucker, July 13,1720, concerning a bill of exchange, a shipment of 30 hogsheads oftobacco on board the Brimpton, Virginiaexpectations of a good marketfor tobacco with the Spanish and French markets now open, and smallernumbers of outport ships in the colony. He had expected to ship moretobacco by the Brimpton, but Captain Russelhad so much tobacco tocarry he was glad not to have to take more of Carter's which went toLondon. He adds that he has drawn a bill of exchange for £100to Edmund Jenings, complains mildly that he has not received currentaccounts from Tucker, doubles his order for wood flooring blocks, andrepeats an order for Southampton cyder. He concludes with orders forgood white wine and ale, having given up drinking red because of hisgout, and tells Tucker that Captain Russel will give him the Virginianews.

     In my last I Accquainted You I did not know
but that I haddrawn a bill upon you payable to one
Thompson since which I'm advised it was drawn upon another person

     This Accompanies a bill of Lading for 30 hogsheads
of Tobacco on board the Brimpton 27 of them stemd I wish them
Safe & to a good Market, We have hopes theSpanish
and the French Trade being both open & consideringthe outport
Ships are a great Deal fewer this year than they was
last, Tobacco may Do tolerably well, I had promist [sic] Captain
[Giles] Russel 20 hogsheads for the newShip buthe was so overwhelmed
with Tobacco he was glad to quitt [sic] me & I have now sent It
for London,If You cannot find a way to keep pace with
that Market, you'l grow quite out of Credit with us.

     I have lately Drawn on You for £100 payable
to Edmund Jenings Esqr. which request you to answer at
time, It would have been very Satisfactory to me
tohave received my Account Current from You, That I may
know upon what Ground I Stand, I shall go near to make
some further use of You before This Summer's out
I will bewell If I Do not reckon my Self stronger in Your
books Thanreally I am, instead of 1,000 foot of board
Paviour which I wrote to You for beforeI now desire You
to Send me in two Thousand foot & also thesouth Ham Cyder [sic] I
writ [sic] toYou for before,

     Since I have been afflicted with the Gout I have
quite left off Drinking redwine, I Drank more of Your Margaux
yesterday with Russell than Ihave done this twelve months If
You could send me in a Gross or 18 doz. of good White wine such
as Captain Russell knows I love uponreasonable terms & in
good largebottles it would be acceptable, & If hebrings
me in 20 dozen of right Good Ale It would not be amiss
Your beer in cask dos not stand Itwell whatever is the reason
Your Master has so large a budget of newes [sic] &is so good a
historian that I shall give my self no furtherTrouble but refer you wholly to him
& subscribe