Robert Carter writes to London merchant Micajah Perry, August 9, 1728, to alert him to the sad state of the affairs of the Carter and of its captain, Thomas Dove, whose gout has prevented him from much activity while in the colony. Carter notes that other ship catains have spread false stories about the ship's leakiness, and the ship's officers are largely incompetent, especially "Young Baggwell" who "hath proved an notorious Villain."

     I am now taking my Leave of the Carter be=
lieving I Shall hardly See her again She hath made another looseing
Voyage can hardly think the Owners will continue their Parts
in her to be looseing money thus every year. Poor Dove hath bin
laid up with the Gout Confined to his Ship a great while together
he hath the worse Set of Officers perhaps that ever came in a Ship
Young Baggwell hath proved an notorious Villain the Cheif
Mate an Ordinary fellow, none of them Equall to his post
Except the Boatswain with these disadvantages and an noto
rious lye hath bin improved agst: the Ship that She was prodigi=
ous leaky and always pumping and what not this Storey Sevl.
of the Masters have made great use of here was Tobbo: Enough
in the river which the York Masters fetchd away nay a gt. deal
Dove Says he had promises of I would not lay anything harsh
to his Charge he is an honest man and I think hath done his
utmost as far as his health would allow him. The Ship hath bin
a pick pocket to me for a great many years I have never faild
to Load my Quota and more the rest of the Owners take little care
of her Pray God Send her well home I bid her fare well Could she
be made an Early Ship and be put under a better regulation there
might be hopes I shall Endeavr. to make my Self Easie in what
ever determination the Owners think fit to come into I am