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 Liverpool and bore date
March 8 1728 and with This accompanys the Portland Captain Russel on
whom I have loaded 59 hogsheads of Stemmed straight laid Tobacco that has
passed the fiery trial of our new Law 44 of them my own crops and 15
a Crop of Colonel 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 tobaccoes I shall not adventure to give you
any directions when to make sale of these. Although Your Captain has 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 Liverpool Ships and one Londoner
that went out of York that was not fully Loaded indeed a Small Ship of
Mr. Perrys sails with yours there are very few Ships more near ready most of
our trade have but just arrived 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 cry was of a Short crop through most parts of the Country &
that many of our your Ships could never find tobacco for near their Loads
tobacco 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
per cent after I had tried all that I could hear of that had any to sell
what fate we that are freighters shall meet with at your markets must be left
to time to tell us the Event your Captain will give you a more particular account
how matters go here

     Herein comes a bill of Lading for my Tobacco the weights
of it and the tare of the Cask you will have under the Naval Officers hands
here is also a bill of Exchange of Captain . Russels upon yourself 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 Esquire

     I have lately received your favour from London of the 18. of
January in it you mention the Sending me an Accot Current 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 disposed 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 proved very good but we must act
our Coat according to our cloth I would have another hogshead from you the
next year although 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 tobacco
at near £ ten pounds Per hogshead

     I have now sent you the greatest parcel I think of
stemmed 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 Captain in his dispa=
tch and I daresay he will own he would have been much more plunged
than he has been, had he wanted my large assistance

     It has pleased 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