Robert Carter writes to Weymouth merchant Edward Tucker, May 11, 1732, to report a large shipment of tobacco on the merchant's ship the Portland, and commenting on the large number of ships then in the colony due apparently to rumors of a large tobacco crop which probably are not true. He encloses (not present) the bill of lading and notifies Tucker of bills of exchange. He writes that he did not receive a promised account current, orders more Dorcester ale, and sadly notes the death of his son Robert on May 6, 1732.

     My last went by the way of Leverpoole and bore date
March 8 1728 and with This accompanys the Portland Capt. Russel on
whom I have loaded 59 hogsheads of Stemm'd strait laid Tobaccoe that hath
pass'd the fiery tryal of our new Law 44 of them my own crops and 15
a Crop of Colol. Pages I cannot doubt it rising very well to your satisfaction
after so Strict a Scrutiny. Having been so often mistaken in our guesses
at the proper time of selling our tobaccos I shall not adventure to give you
any directions when to make sale of these. Altho' Your Cap. hath met
with great delays in his Loading and when you might have expected
him at home is Still with us You must reckon him a forward Ship
being one of the first excepting a Couple of Leverpoole Ships and one Londoner
that went out of York that was not full Loaden indeed a Small Ship of
Mr. Perrys sales with yours there are very few Ships more near ready most of
our trade have but just arriv'd abundance of Ships we have we Suppose
from the expectation of a great Crop I am just got home from the General
Court there the great crye ^was of a Short crop thro' most parts of the Country &
that many of our ^yr Ships could never find tobo for near their Loads
tobo in the Country is considerably Started lately I was forced to buy some
to discharge some country Dues ^{to the Southward} and could not get it under 12/6
PrCent. after I had try'd all that I could hear of that had any to sell
what fate we that are freighters shall meet with at yr. markets must be left
to time to tell us the Event your Capn: will give you a more particular account
how matters go here

     Herein comes a bill of Lading for my Tobaccoe the weights
of it and the tare of the Cask you will have under the Naval Offrs. hands
here is also a bill of Exchange of Capn. Russels upon yrself for £21"10 which
I desire Credit for And I am to advise you that on the 6th Inst I drew a bill
of exchange upon you for £ one hundred pounds payable to John Randolph Esqr.

     I have lately receiv'd your favour from London of the 18. of
January in it you mention the Sending me an Accot Currant by the
Portland but it must be your mistake I had only the sales of the 10 hogsheads
sent you in 1730. It seems you did not remember you had disposd of any
more of my 20 hogsheads than one of the 12 you told me before were un=
sold I reckon then being the winter season might make Selling
difficult [sic ] and 'rest in hopes the Spring market might help you off with
The rest and that this will arrive to a Clear town [sic ]

     Your Dorchester beer prov'd very good but we must act
our Coat according to our cloth I would have another hogshead from you the
next year tho' I drink little of it myself for the Entertainment of my friends
but it must be upon this condition if you can be able to bring out my tobo
at near £ ten pounds Pr. hogshead

     I have now sent you the greatest parcel I think of
stemm'd tobacco that ever I did in one year I hope I shall have no Cause
to repent it I did it in a great measure to help your Cap. in his dispa=
tch and I daresay he will own he would have been much more plungd
than he has been, had he wanted my large assistance

     It hath pleasd God in his good providence to lay his
heavy hand upon me in bereaving me of my dear Son Robert who took
his leave of this world by a Sudden death on the 6th. instant I am going up
to his habitation to be present at his funeral obsequies I am I