Robert Carter writes to London merchants Captain John Hyde and Company, September 17, 17[23], to remind the merchants of a bill of exchange reported in an earlier letter, and relating his decision to order some "selling Goods." He reports the poor crop across the colony and in Maryland, and expresses his hope that the tobacco already sent to England will fetch good prices. In a post script, he reports the arrival of the firm's ship the Providence, Capt. Woodward, with a load of salt which Carter notes he will assist the master in selling.

     My last was Via Scotland to advise Y [ou of]
a bill of exchange Colonel Page & myself had drawn upon You for [£50]
payable to John Bagge to be answered out of Mrs. Burwells money [in]
Your hands,

     I have been in suspence until this day whether I Shoul [d]
Send for any selling Goods or no but Im now come to a resolution to
have a small parcel I wish it be not too late, you pleased me so
Well in the last You sent me that I now send the Enclosed invoice to
You desiring Your care in the buying them & to send them in by the
first good conveniency that Offers If they are not so Early with
me as I could wish, I must blame my own Irresolution, I have computed them
as well as I can & reckon the cost of them will not amount to
Two hundred pound near,

     It is now agreed on all hands from all parts of the coun=-try
Our crop is very mean both in Quantity & Quality I believe you'll
have the Same Account from Maryland, This with the Act of Parlia
ment Prohibiting stemmed Tobacco raises in us Expectations that
the Tobacco gone home will Advance Especially the stemmed I am