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 hogsheads of stemmed straight laid Tobo my own Crop
as neatly bundled as I am able to do It. made at my home plantations
under as much care as any gentleman In Virginia takes, & I hope
will Answer my Pains in the price, I used to have as much for my tobacco
as the finest Crops of York river, how it comes to be other ways now, I
cannot Imagine the reason, two hogsheads of Mr Burwells Tobacco are of his
home Crops, Your prices Surely will keep pace with other mens
that we may be encouraged to continue & increase our business to
You, Captain Wills has met with a good Dispatch I had designed him
50 hogsheads and they lay ready, his Sloop called a Day before my
return from the Assembly, & for want of orders they were not delivered
to them, I cannot blame Captain Wills, who is indeed a very Obligeing
Diligent person, and I dare say will merit as good an Esteem
here as any of his Fraternity, he has done his business with=
=out my last Tobacco and It is no disappointment to me, You
will hear further from me by some other Ships I am -- --