Robert Carter writes to London merchant Micajah Perry, Senior, and his grandon of the same name, June 2, 1721, concerning the difficulty that the ships in the colony are having in obtaining cargoes, and that Bailey Kent of the Carter is finding it difficult to obtain cargo as planters are punishing him for his high freight rates of last year. Carter is sending more tobacco on that ship than he ever has before. Captain Wharton has only about half his cargo, but has said he will not return to Virginia and does not care what anyone thinks of him. He reports the prospects of a poor crop because the young plants are being destroyed in the beds.

     I wrote to You a few days ago via Liverpool , This intended
as a Short line to give You a hint of the present storys that are
Among us, It's said most of the York Ships will want of their Loading
& that there is some Thousands of hogsheads Short of what there is Ships to carry
I almost think the Circumstances of our River are much the Same, [Bailey] Kent is in
great doubt whether he shall get full or not. although I load upon him
more Tobacco than ever I did, his old friends in revenge for his £10 per ton
last Year have all left him, & do him all the prejudice they can
Wharton I reckon is not above half Loaded, & I believe is very much
put to It to Employ his craft, and yett he Still brags he will not
go under £10 he has a [ns] w [er] 'd me very indifferently , for my kindness in
being so Early on board him, I shall endeavor to measure to him the
Same Treatment, he says he'll come here no more & does not care who
he disobliges but I have not seen him Since I came from the General Court

      We have now a very Indiferent prospect of a Crop, we have
not planted much, and the Plants in our beds both high lands & Low
are in a great measure destoryed this is the Cry everywhere that I
have concerns in, I Shall not be further Troublesome at present rema [in]
Sirs Y -- -- [sic ]