Robert Carter writes to London merchant William Dawkins, December 27, 1723, reporting the arrival of the Burwell and that captains Adam Graves and Peter Wills have not yet arrived. The winter has been mild thus far but whether later ships will be able to load and sail early he will not predict. The crop is only about 2/3 of the previous year.

     This just tells you the Burwell arrived
Into york [River] the 19th Instant Adam Graves & [Peter] Wills are Still out whether
they will be able to Save the Act of Parliament will be a grand
doubt, We have had a mighty favourable Winter hitherto, The
dispatch of the ships will depend much upon Weather what the
later ships will do I Shall not prognosticate. I think I may
with a great deal of Assurance affirm, that through the Country
we want above a third of the last years Crop I am --