Robert Carter writes to London merchant William Dawkins, May 13 and June 2, 1727, compaining about the prices realized in Dawkins' tobacco sales and reporting that he has lost at least 70 slaves. He will call upon his balance in Dawkins' hands for £4-500 in their replacement. A bill of lading (not present) for 20 hogsheads of tobacco is enclosed. Merchant Micajah Perry has been so indifferent to Carter that he is thinking of ending his business with Perry. The problems of the Carter and her captain, Adam Graves, receive comment. In a post script, Carter writes that he has learned of the failure of London merchant Thomas Evans who owes him about £400 but that he understands that there is very little money available to pay Evans' creditors.

     I have now your Letters by the Welcome [with]
my Accot: Currt: which comes out at less by Several hundred of pounds
than I promised my Self, and to these poor prices for my tobacco Go [d]
in his Providence hath visited me with a Terrible Stroke in my
familys I have not lost less than Seventy working Slaves, May
I learn to Say with the Psalmist it is good for me that I have
bin Afflicted, To Supply these breaches upon me will drain
me of a great deal of money I Shall in a Short Time value
my Self upon you for 400 or 500.£

     herein Send you a bill of Lading for 20 hhds:
of my own Crop tobacco on board the Betty Captain Keiling Wee are
all told of an Empty market and that the new Crop is Expected
to Sell much better, My tobacco formerly used to keep pace with
the best Crops in York its very hard upon me that 8 1/2 pence and 8 pence is to
be my doom and from 9 pence to 10 pence to be the York prices,

     Mr. Perry hath treated me so indifferently not
to say unjustly that unless he will give me Satisfaction in
some things [in] our future Correspondance I believe will Entirely
break I Send him no tobacco this year neither of my own nor
Mr. Burwells of which Concern I Sent you 20 hhds: by the Spotwood
Capt: Bradbey In hopes you will be able to keep up the Credit of that
Crop I have ordered 18 hhds: to go on board Graves Altho he does not
deserve so much respect from me if what I hear of his reports
Concerning the Carter be true that She is a Crazy Ship damaged
a great part of her tobacco last year was upon Sale and he believed
She would not come in with other stories to her disadvantage
I think for your Sake as well as mine he had better have kept
these stories to himself.

     I am now to tell you the hopeless Circumstances
the Carter is in The Welcome cuts her out of some Dove
protests to me and he hath visited all the river from the head
to foot that with large Allowances he cannot promise himself
above Six hundred hhds. I have a great deal of reason to Com=
plain