Robert Carter writes to London merchant William Dawkins, August 26, 1723, reporting the serious damage that recent bad weather has done to crops up and down the Rappahannock, on the York, and in Maryland. He adds that a short crop may benefit planters who ship only stripped tobacco before the act of Parliament banning its importantion into England goes into effect. If Dawkins plans to send the Carter, she should sail early. He closes by writing that he hopes to see one or both of his sons before Christmas.

     I have already hinted to You the great damage our Crops
has sustaind by the Rains & winds. I have had Intelligence
from the head to the foot of our River I may say from the Northern
Side of York too & the Cry is as bad in Maryland, people that I
Converse with generally reckon there will hardly be half a Crop
but I dare not give any orders about keeping my Tobacco having so
severely smarted for it these late Years, One would reason that these
stories & the near taking place of the Act of Parliament against stem
=ing Tobacco would be of considerable service to us that ship nothing
but stripped Tobacco

     Neither dare I say any thing About the Carter, If You
Adventure to send her, It will be highly proper to make her an
Early Ship, I am

      I am big with hopes of seeing one if not both my Sons
On this Side of Christmas which shall conclude me at
present. --