Robert Carter writes to London merchant Thomas Evans, August 3, 1723, that he did not receive a letter from Evans in the latest batch to arrive from England. He encloses a bill of lading (not present), and briefly complains about the stemmed tobacco act. He orders sacking for bags, cloth for prizing cider, and a very strong scythe for cutting hay.

     By Capt. Hopkins, I have received my Accots. from
[t] he rest of the Merchts. but Yet See nothing from You which makes
me a little uneasie, Herewith comes a bill of Lading for
10 hhds of Tobo. on board Capt Richardson 8 of them Stemd my
Own Crop, The other two Sweat Sented Leaf,

     I have the Act of Parliament prohibitting all
Stemd Tobo. that Shall Arrive After the 1st of June next, It is
A very great Shock to me, who have Stemd all my Crops for
these Thirty Years together, The Great Argument I Suppose
hath bin the Encreasing The Kings Custome, [sic] but I believe in
Experience that Will be found a great Mistake, a New
Door of Fraud will be indeed open for the Scotch, but there
I shall leave It, My Lettrs. Were seald up for Richardson
before my News by Hopkins came to which refer You,

     I Desire You to Send me in with the rest of my Goods,
40 Yards of Your Strongest sacking For Baggs, and 20 Yds.
of Hair Cloth for prizing Cyder, Also a Strong good Scyth fixd
with a proper handle and ^Iron Wedges, for Mowing Hay, pray take
Particular care in buying this Scyth, Let it be as Strong &
good as money will Fetch, I had one come in two or three
Year Ago, which was a old Shopkeeper I Suppose, one
Days work Spoild It, It wanted Strength in the back, These
hard times will Drive us into All the ways of husbandry
We are capable of, I have almost done wth. the world, I hope
to make a Shift to rub through during my time and
for the Next Generation let them take care of themselves I
am --