Robert Carter writes to London merchant Thomas Colmore, January 29 and February 15, 1724, reporting the arrival of Captain Wills's ship, and complaining about the merchant's sales of his and the Burwell estate's tobacco. He also complains of Colmore's method of preparing the account current that he sent to Carter. Mr. Pratt has kept his tobacco to be sent on Wills' ship, and he adds that he is sending some more Burwell estate tobacco to Colmore in the hope that he will receive better sales this time. In a post script dated 1724 February 15, Carter lets Colmore know that the slaves' shoes the merchant has shipped were far too small for the sizes maked on them; "Your Shoomaker hath bin a Arrant Cheat." He orders 6 dozen pairs in large sizes to be shipped as soon as possible.

     Captain Wills Arrivd into York the 10th. of this month, We
were most of us in dispare of his coming time Enough to get away in
March The Burwell got in three Weeks before him, I took freight there
for the last of my Tobo. not above ten days before Your Ship came, Some small
help I can now afford her, but not much, Wills's Sloop is [illegible] up our
River, put my Goods on Shoar as they went by, is to call in her way
down for Some Tobo., You must allow me to tell You that neither
my own nor Mr. Burwell's sales are pleasing to me, They come out con=
=siderably less than the Same Tobo. other Men had the Sale of. twelve hhds.
of my Tobo. You give me no Accot. of, although Your former Letters pro=
=mise me compleat Accots. I cant ghess at Your meaning in it. I hope
the Tobo. is not lost, Your Accots. are made up in a different manner to
Other Mens, You charge Brokerage as a Standing Article in all
my Accots. which I never saw before unless where the Tobo. was Sold to
Export, certainly Mr. Levitt who was the buyer of most of my Tobo. and
Mr. Mayne are persons of higher Noat, than to want Brokers to find
them out, You have also a Charge for postage of Lettrs. in Every Accot.
of Sales, an Article Intirely new to me, I always meet with the Charge
of Postage in my Accot. Currt. & there I desire to find it & not in my
Sales, I hope You will think it proper to give me Credit for these
Wrong charges, and that in some of the Ships that are to come, I shall
receive an Accot. of my twelve hhds.

     Mr. Pratt hath bin so firme to Your Interest to keep his
Tobo. for Yor. Ship, and therein run a very great hazzard, I am told tht.
Wills is Secure of his Loading & 'tis not doubted but will get away
in good time, Some of Mr. Burwells Tobo. You will have in him
being willing to make another Tryal in hopes You will be able
to sell our Tobo. for as much as other Men do, The Bailey got in
but two days before Your Ship, I am,