Robert Carter writes to his old friend, London merchant John Pratt, August 22, 1727, to tell him that he has worked very hard to see that John Falconar's ship the Marlborough was fully loaded and that he has shifted most of his business to Falconar from Micajah Perry. He gives Pratt information about the current crop estimates in the colony, and writes that he owes his daughter Elizabeth (Carter) Burwell Nicholas £50 which she wishes to be paid in plate. She will write to Pratt herself asking for his assistance in choosing it. He mentions his grandson Lewis Burwell's many promises of greater attention to his studies in preparation for university, and his own health problems.
Yor: Entertainment of the 7th: of December now calls on me
for my Anniversary Answer by the Carter
Captain Buckeridge
who I hope
is now very near you will be able to give a good Account of himself
Sailed the Last of the last month when he came in both he and his friends
were very doubtful he wouild fall a great deal Short of his loading
however our Zeal amongst us was so great that your friend Falconar
has no dead freight to pay and you must allow me to tell you
he met with no [o]
ne
friend
that Exerted himself more than I did for
which Service I hope Mr. Falconar will have a Suitable Concern
for my Interest who is now let into a great Share of my business
and your old friend Mr. Perry
with whom I have had a long Chain
of large Affairs has not one hogsheads from me this year how the
Gentleman will resent it his next must tell me if he will pay
away my Estate in his hands with honour I Shall have no
other regard for his great ness [sic
]
You Speak of an Empty market and give us hopes
we Shall meet with better prices this year than we did the last. It will
be good news if your Conclusions proves true. The Carter falls Short
of her Loading between two and three hundred hogsheads purely because
She was a lag Ship there is little to be depended on from our Guesses
of a Crop at this Time of year but the General Opinion at present is
that this crop will be a great deal less than the last was Our Tobacco
are fired away prodigiously but It
and has been hurried to the houses
before it was fit to go there, I believe you'll hear the Same Story from the
rest of your friends
I have for a long time been indebted to my Daughter
Nicholas
in a promise of £50 to be laid out
for her as She Should direct
She now Chooses to have it in Plate and writes to you herself to be
Assistant in the buying of it my Instructions go to Mr.Falconar --
I am glad to hear your little family was so well and that the Nephew
proves so great a Comfort to you and am Sorry you have nothing good
to Say of my GrandSon Lewis
but that he is well, he gives me migh
ty promises of reforming himself and taking to his book [s]
heartily
in order to Qualify him for the University Pray God Grant him such
a measure of his Grace that he may answer the great design of
We have had an Extreme hot August from the begining
If our Governor
Should come in quickly whom we Expect daily in the
Randolph he will go near to be Saluted with trying weather I thank
God all your friends are in reasonable good health of my large fam
ily I know of none but are well Colonel Page
will give Account of himself
for my own part I am under an Afflicting distemper that I am afraid
will bear me company to my Grave I am Sir in the Catalogue of
one of your paternal care and