Robert Carter writes to London merchant William Dawkins, June 28, 1729, to report shipments of tobacco from himself and the Burwell estate on the Bailey, and to inform the merchant that he remains interested in holding a share in a new vessel in the Virginia tobacco trade. He informs Dawkins of a number of bills of exchange, the conclusion of "your Affair with Mr. Lee," his approval of "your Chastizements of my son Robert" for his sloppy business practices, and that he has received "the Widdow Hutchins's Obligation for your Debt."

     I am now taking niy leave of Adam Graves. he is a
full ship hath left me out 3 hogsheads of Tobbo: that was designd for you you have
now a bill of Lading for 41 hhds. there is a mistake In the mark of 17 of them
they want the B of the back side, but they are all my own Crops they came down
from my Plantations just as the ship was full wee were In such hast that wee quite
forgot marking them of the right mark,

     By a letter I writ to you dated the 12th. of Octor. last
(I give it you in the very words.) I beleive you'l think it for yor. Interest to have
"a small ship here In this river early for this Crop. I expect the Carter will be sold
"I have bin so indifferently used in her that I have often taken up resolutions
"never to be Concernd in any other. however taking Tom Dove to be a very honest
"fellow and being willing to be a Contributor towards another ship for him
"if you will build a new ship of about 5 or 600 hhds. and calling her after my
"name to be a standing ship for this river I will hold an eighth in her. This
"ship I cant Expect can be got ready for this crop but may very well be made
"an early ship against the next to Continue Tom Dove in business in the
"mean time if you will think it proper to send him in a small ship In=
"differently Early I should think he cant miss of geting full I will do him
"all the service I can,

     This Letter I sent away by one Naylor a Leverpl. man
who it is reported hath never bin heard of and not finding you take any
notice of it suppose it was lost Dove it seems hath proved himself so notorious
a Villain that I beleive neither you nor any of his friends will have any
thing more to do with him and Indeed if the reports of him be true he deserves
the Abhorrence of Mankind.

     I am still Contented to be Concernd in a new ship to
use this river to be of the Burthen above mentiond and to wear my name
and to hold an eighth in her, Adam Graves I would also Chuse to be Mastr:
of her and he seems to be desirous of it for the love of his father and himself
too ^he hath a better Interest among us then any other you can send,

     Herein I send you my invoice for the goods I design to have
from you next Year, Desireing in the buying and shiping them you will
follow the directions therein given.

     I now give you advice of the bills of exchange I have drawn up=
[on] you to wit £ 40 Payable to Majr Thos. Randell, £5 to Thos: Carter and £ 2:13:4 to the
Lord Orkne [y] ^{& £294:8:9 to Mr. Richd. Lee} I do not find any more bills drawn on my
own Accot. On the Accot.

     Herein I send you three bills of Exchange Saml. Peachy for
£7:-:- Thos: Edwards for £27"18"12. John Seagar for £12:12:1' All
drawn upon your self.

     I sent you an Order last year to pay Adam Graves four
Pound ten shillings a debt I owed to his Brother Ben. he tells me he heard
nothing of this order:

     My son and,I hath loaded upon the ship the Baily this year
a 100 and odd hhds. which hath bin no small service to her in her dispatch

     I have finishd your Affair with Mr. Lee I hope it is done
to yor. satisfaction the First bill of Exchange I send. to you by the Baily , the second bill
shall come by another Opportunity

     I am very far from taking It amiss that you are so free
in your Chastizements of my son Robert you Act the part of a good friend to
him You may beleive he wants not my Admonitions for these dangrously [sic ]
slips I hope he will take warning and be more Exact in his business for the
future before he bites off the Bridle and suffers by a dear bought Experience
he is gon to live by himself upon the Estate I design him to learn to be
Master of his own Affairs and I promise my self after a few years more
Experience he will prove a diligent Carefull man. his family Encreases
he hath 2 Children and his wife ready to lye down with her third,

     The Williamsburgh stays out long wee Expect a great deal of
news by her and that the Merchts. will all write Plentifully Pray God send
it be good I heartily wish the Baily a Prosperous Voyage to you both for your
own sake as well as mine.

     I have got the Widdow Hutchins's Obligation for your Debt
I think it is safe but you must have patience till she Is able to pay it
Conelly is now my Overseer as I have already told you I take him to be
honest but both you and I. I doubt must wait a long time before he Is able
to pay our money. to carry such People to the law I hate and If I did you
know the proverb Sue a beggar &c. I sincerely wish your health & happiness,
& am