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 has made another losing
Voyage can hardly think the Owners will continue their Parts
in her to be losing money thus every year. Poor Dove has been
laid up with the Gout Confined to his Ship a great while together
he has the worst Set of Officers perhaps that ever came in a Ship
Young Baggwell has proved an notorious Villain the Chief
Mate an Ordinary fellow, none of them Equal to his post
Except the Boatswain with these disadvantages and an noto
rious lie has been improved against the Ship that She was prodigi=
ous leaky and always pumping and what not this Story Several
of the Masters have made great use of here was Tobacco Enough
in the river which the York Masters fetched away nay a great deal
Dove Says he had promises of I would not lay anything harsh
to his Charge he is an honest man and I think has done his
utmost as far as his health would allow him. The Ship has been
a pick pocket to me for a great many years I have never failed
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 Endeavor to make my Self Easy in what
ever determination the Owners think fit to come into I am