Robert Carter writes to Liverpool merchant John Pemberton, September 27, 1727, to report on the progress of the sales of the merchant's ship's cargo of slaves, noting that he has had to take tobacco for most sales because many slaves have come into the colony the past year and money is exhausted. There should be tobacco to load the ship for the return voyage. He also quotes the governor concerning the capture of seven ships by a Spanish privateer.

     My last went by Capt: Tarleton Dated the
16th: Instant then advised the Arrival of the Rose Capt. Christian
[illegible] I have not time now to Copy Think it necessary to send
you this line Via Glasgow to advise how far the Sale is gon
forward That you be apprized in time how to order yor. Affairs in
my hands Some of the bills of Exchange are not to be give[n] me
till Aprill I was glad to take them then Perhaps I may be able
to return you about Nine hundred pound by the Ship money
is become prodigious Scarce among us I have bin forcd to
take Tobbo: for a great many as you will See by the Inclosed
list of the Sale there remains Six and Twenty unsold one of them
Just dead half the rest Sick aShoar with Scurvys Lameness
Swellings and ^other disorders those that are ^on board the [ship] refuse most
if not all of them must go for Tobbo: I shall now Consider the
Circumstances of Freighting the Ship there will be Tobbo: enough
due this year ^near to Load her all to be of mens own Crops and
made heavy I make it all payable the Tenth of next month
and yet you know the geting our Commodity ready depends
ing so much upon weather there is no trusting to it therefore I
have thought it adviseable to take Freight at £8 per Tunn
beleive wee are promised between Sixty and four Score hhds.
whether to let any more I am at a loss to determine I know you
have as much of your Concern home as you Could and yet I am
willing to Save your paying Dead Freight as much as possible
Your Charter Party does not Say whether your owners are to tfit

     I am doubtfull my proceeding in this Affair
hardly met with your Approbation however I have done my
utmost to Serve you as much as if the Concern had bin my own
had it bin so I could not have taken more pains the money of
the Country is quite Exhausted wee have had above five thous
and Negroes imported this year I am told they Sell at York
the Choice of their Ships at £35 £31 per pair I hear Colonel Tayloe
makes but an indifferent hand of it in Maryland His noats
are up ^here at Several publick places for the leting of freight at
£8 per Tunn Sterling If his Ship is to Load here I reckon wee Shall
be in better Circumstances for a dispatch than he will

     I shall Send you a peice of News I had from the
Govr. Yesterday in his own words ("A Spanish privateer has
taken Seven Sail on this Coast Vizt : Captain Graham belonging
to London from James river Cockram of Glasgow from Patap
ses a Leverpool Ship from Maryland and a Sloop belonging to
Drummond of Accomack A Sloop of new York one of Am
boy and another of Boston which last they discharged with
the prisoners who are Arrived at Hampton I am