Robert Carter writes to London merchant Micajah Perry, March 6, 1724, reporting that he is shipping 30 hogsheads of tobacco on board the Burwell and that he assumes that the merchant will accept a freight rate of £8 per ton. He understands that the Carter and also Captain Richardson are on their way to the colony, but fears they will find it impossible to get good cargoes. In closing, he notes that Captain Adam Graves will not be able to fully load before he must sail.
This is designed by the Burwell Captain Cant
[if it]
reaches him Else I Suppose it will come by Wills
who will be at his [
...
]
[ . . . ]
The Burwell has 30 hhds. of my Crop Tobacco in her consigned to You b[
...
]
[ut]
I have no Bill of Lading, I Expect You will be Contented with Eight po [unds]
per ton, You know how generous we were when it was our turn, & it may
be again if You squeeze us now, Your ships make a short Voyage & Must get money --
I have a Letter from London of the 22d. of November tells me the
Carter
& Richardson
were coming to our river what they will do I profess
I dont know, Would the former take £6 per ton I'm affraid there is no Such
thing as a load to be found for him, February has been a terrible month
for Water Work, I doubt [not]
it will be Impossible for Adam Graves
to get his
Tobacco on board in time, he has a great deal to Spare if he could Stay but
go he must whether full or no, this is a Short hasty line I am,