Robert Carter writes to London merchant Micajah Perry, February 13 and 17, 1724, reporting large shipments of tobacco from his own and the Lloyd and Burwell estates, and commenting on the "thinness" of the leaves that has prevented tight prizing, and produced lighter hogsheads than usual. He lets Perry know that he intends to take up again the item in his accounts from the merchant in which he is charged 2 1/2 "For receiving bills" which he is very unhappy about. There are great hopes in the colony that the shipments of the last stemmed tobacco they will be allowed to export will bring great prices. He concludes with orders for shoes, noting the "shooe Makers are very cheats" because they make the shoe sizes smaller than they used to. In a post script dated February 17, 1724, Carter notes that he is enclosing bills of lading (not present) for tobacco from his and the Lloyd estates, and alerts the merchant that Mr. Miles, a Maderia merchant, will send a bill for two pipes of wine and that he has ordered one more because this wine is the oinly one he can drink because of his "Gouty condition."

     I have said so much to You lately my
Entainmt. now will be the Shorter, You have herein bills of
Lading for my Tobo. on board Keiling Thirty two hhds. of my own
Tobo. two of them of a different mark are not of my Crop
but I am Assurd are very well managd Stemd Tobo. & I hope
will Sell as well, here is also a bill of Lading for thirty
hhds. of the LLs. Keiling hath been perswaded to Signe these bills

     We feed our Selves wth. fine hopes from ths. Stemmedd Tobo. that its
first Coming home the Moneyless Men may Afford good penyworths, but Yor.
Strength will Enable You to bring the Smoakers to a better Temper, let
the Top Merchts. fix their resolutions upon a good price & there is no doubt
but they will carry it,

     The last Shoos I had from you for the LLs Concern were generally
too small if You have any opportunity this next Summer or by the fall
to Send me in four doz. of large strong plain Shoos One half of the 16s.
and 'tother of the 14s. it would be very necessry & I would also desire You
to Send me Six doz. upon my own Accot half the 16s. & half the 14s. pray
take Effectual care they be Strong Carmens Shoos as good as can be
bought for Money, The shooe Makers are very cheats make their
Sizes a great deal Smaller than they Usd to be, I have had very good
Shoos from Your house formerly & so used Mr Burwell to have the
best that ever I Saw, I am