Robert Carter writes to Liverpool merchant John Pemberton, June 11, 1724, to enclose a bill of lading for 22 hogsheads of leaf tobacco on board the Vine, and commenting on the diminishing trade in the colony from the non-London ships. He adds that Scots merchants have taken much tobacco, and that the current crop will be poor in part because of the limit on plants that each man is allowed. He reports a number of bills of exchange, and alerts Pemberton that he will soon send an invoice for goods. He closes with a complaint that the slave shoes the merchant has sent are too small.

     This is by the Vine Accompanys a Bill of
Lading for two & Twenty hhds.. of leaf Tobo. which I doubt not You will
make as good a Dispose of as is to be had, All our Lettrs. out of England
give us hopes of a rising Markett ^{this Summer} Especially for Leaf Tobo -- & if
Stemd dos not rise now twill be very Strange when You are
like to have no more of it, The Outports have Shrunk prodigiously
in their Trade, Yours hath nothing to what it usd to have, Bristol
Falls Short a great deal, Londo. hath Several Ships fewer then they
[had] last Year, The Scoth have carried off 10 or 12 thousand hhds.
[ . . . ] their Ships won't carry above 4 thousand hhds. We are stinted
to the Planting [6] thousand Plants per head & have a Very poor prospect at
this time of Even getting that planted, All these things one Would
think will help the Markett --

     I am now to advise You of the Bills of Exche. I have drawn
on You to this day, To Witt for £18"17"5 to Collo: Samuel Boush
for £38"5/ to Wm. Shrine, for £12"15/ to the Execrs. of Robt. Tucker
for £100. to Collo: Diggs or Henry Willis I dont well remember
Whether,

     I shall want some Goods from You, My Invoyce will
Come here after, Your Shoos are very Small I don't know what
I shall do for my large people unless I can get them from You
I writ Early for this Spring I remain,