Letter from Robert Carter to London merchant Thomas Colmore, June 27, 1723, to cover a shipment of 20 hogsheads of tobacco on board the Booth commanded by Captain Wills. He asserts that it was grown and carefully handled on his home plantations, is good as any produced on York River, and will, he hopes, fetch a good price. He had intended 50 hogsheads for Captain Wills, but his sloop called for them while Carter was in Williamsburg, and without orders, the tobacco was not loaded.

     This comes by the Booth Capt Wills & Encloses a
Bill of Lading for 20 hhds of Stemd. Strait laid Tobo my own Crop
as neatly bundled as I am able to do It. made at my home plans.
under as much care as any Gentn. In Virginia takes, & I hope
will Answer my Pains in the price, I us'd to have as much for my Tob.
as the finest Crops of York river, how it comes to be other ways now, I
can't Imagine the reason, two hhds of Mr Burwells Tobo. are of his
home Crops, Your prices Surely will keep pace with other mens
that we may be Encouragd to continue & Encrease our business to
You, Capt. Wills hath met wth. a good Dispatch I had designd him
50 hhds and they lay ready, his Sloop calld a Day before my
return from the Assembly, & for want of Ordrs. they were not deliver'd
to them, I cannot blame Capt. Wills, who is indeed a very Obligeing
Diligent person, and I dare say will Merrit as good an Esteem
here as any of his Fraternity, he hath done his business with=
=out my last Tobo. and It is no disappointment to me, You
will hear further from me by some other Ships I am -- --