Robert Carter writes to London merchant Thomas Evans, July 22, 1723, to clarify his order for medicines, and to order new sword belts which he wishes Evans personally to select. He encloses a bill of lading (not present) for 8 hogsheads of tobacco. He then writes bitterly of reports in the colony that a bill near passage in the House of Commons will prevent the importation into England of stripped and lug tobacco which he attributes to the lobbying efforts of Scots and outport interests. He notes that a expected fine crop of tobacco in the colony has been severely reduced by hard rains, and states that Heaven is joining with the efforts of the lobbyists to ruin the Virginia planters who pay full duties on their imports into England.

     The above is a Coppy of what went in the
Carter, I had overshot myself Strangely in my Physick In
voyce, upon a narrow Scrutiny into the Medicines I already
have find I want very few of them Accordingly I have crosd.
in my Invoice those Medicines I would not have you send
me and ^tht you may not mistake me herein I send you a
particular Invoice for what Physick I would have sent
and no more

     I have several good swords by me but never a
belt thats fit to wear these Silken belts do but little service
I have seen Buff belts very soft and pliant and yet very
Strong, I have also seen Tann Leather belts both
Genteel and Strong I desire you will send me one of
Each sort and be at the trouble of buying them your
self

     Herewith will be sent you a bill of Lading
for Ten hhds. of Tobbo. on Board the Sarah Capt. --
Richardson 8 of them Stemd and Strait laid my own
Crop, the other two Sweet Sented leaf which will be all I
shall give you the trouble of this Year I wish your pro
ceedings in my Affairs gives me Encouragement to Encrease
my number to you hereafter

      Wee have lately [had] come to ^us a ^very unnatural
unmercifull Story, and yet Packed with so much certainty
there is hardly left any room to doubt the truth of it a Scotch
Merchant from Glasgow writes to his Correspondent here
the Letter I saw and read dated the 9th of May Informing
him that the Bill in the House of Commons relating to Tobbo.
had pass'd a Second reading and was ordered to be Engross'd in
which is a clause added Prohibiting the Importation of all
Stripd and Lug Tobbo: to take place the 1st of June 1724
this is to be done when our Commodity is so miserably low
already seems to be so harsh a Story I dont know what
name to call it by, This author says this clause was obtaind
by the Interest of the Scotch M erchants ^embers with the Assistance
of the outports

      Wee have a great many Scotch among us
at this very Day but report says they will be able to get
few of their Ships full and will be very late

     A month ago we had a great prospect of a Crop everybody
planted very early but many hard rains since hath spoiled
abundance of Tobbo: and tis Generaly said there is not such
a thing as a peice of good Tobbo: to be seen this we must
thank the mercy of Heaven for all human contrivances
seem to be Calculated for our Ruin. If the Scotch are Suffered
to carry on their frauds the Gentm. of the Countrey who are
the Consigners and pays the full Duty will never be able to
live, the Scotch here upon their victory Triumph prodigi
ously and talk mighty big of carrying all before them, and
to flout and despise all the attempts that can be made
against them I am Sr