Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

July 6, 1768 - Letter. Robert Carter Nicholas to John Norton
CWF Rockefeller Libraray, Special Collections - SCMS 1936.3

I wrote to you last month advising
that I had shipt 40 Hogsheads of Tob^o on board
the Randolph ^{Capt Walker} to your address, which I
desired you to insure in such Manner
as you thought most for my Interest;
I now repeat the same Request. I had wai-
ted so long for Cap^t . Robertson that I really
began to despair of him; however, I would
have kept my Tob^o longer, if I had thought
there was any Danger of his being pinch'd
when he did arrive; I was at the same
Time very desirous to get some of my Tob^o
as early as possible at Market; as [we]
have a Prospect of a large crop this
year & Cap^t . Walker engaged to sail by the
20^th of this month at farthest. I have pur:
chased 36 hds on York River & propose giving y^r
son a commission to buy for me four more,
when he goes up to Hanover Court to make
the Number party for Cap^t . Robertson, so that
you'll be pleased also to insure that num:
ber with him. This you see my Friend
that I have exerted myself to serve you in
this scarce year. I refused a great & tempting
Price for my own Crop & gave a great price
for what I have purchased from 21/ to 26/ pct [per cent]

I must desire the fav^r of your assistance
in an affair that concerns my Office. When
I wrote to you for some materials for our
Printers, they were in hopes of being able
to supply themselves with Paper at Phi:
ladelphia; in the Fall I gave them a
Letter of Credit to a Friend there; the Paper
was not to be had, but he was so obliging
as immediately to write to M^r Bowden,
who gave the commission to Mess^rs Frank
& Beckerton; these gentlemen have shipt
part of the Paper, I think to the amount of
£120 add pounds, the rest they promise
to ship by midsummer & write Mess^rs Pur:
die & Dixon that they expected to have
been immediately put in cash for the
whole amount, which was £400 stg; they
quote a Paragraph of my Friends let:
ter, which only engaged that the money
should be remitted upon the Arrival
of the Paper; tho' there is some little In:
consistancy in this, & tho' I can't but think
the Gentleman a little hasty, presuming
that the paper was probably bought on
the usual Terms of Credit, yet as the matter
concerns my office, I would not willingly
leave the [illegible] [for] complaint.
I have money enough by me, but if
my Life was at Stake, I don't know where
to procure a Bill that can be depended
upon for such a sum. I have no doubt
but you, from y^r Friendship for me,
would pay my draught, but as I have
drawn several Bills already, I dont care
to value myself in this way on you at pre
sent for so large an additional sum; but,
if you can continue with convenience
to your self, to support my credit with
those gentlemen & make them easy, I
should esteem it a great Favour; the
sum Ingaged for is £400 stg. I have de:
sired your son to take what Money
the ships may have occasion for of me,
& instead, as in the course of the last year,
to who invest what little money I may
have to spare in Bills & send them to you.
Within these few days I have drawn on
you in favour of M^r Filmer Green for
£6 stg, which you'll be pleased to pay; my
other Drought you have been advised
of in former Letters: I shall hope to receive
my acc^t of sails & acc^ts curr^t. by the first
opportunity, as I long to know exactly how
matters stand between us. I have advanced
considerably for Tob^o both this & the last
year; I will avoid drawing on you if
I can tho', should I be much disappointed
in receiving part of considerable sums
due to me, perhaps I may be obliged to do it.
Your neighbours Mess^rs ___ H ____ have open'd
a fine [scheme] for my countrymen; they
advance £1000 stg for 25 Hhds.; but this we
have Nothing to do with. I expect y^r
[Jon] will call upon me to Day in his way
to Hanover Court; I believe he is very well
Accept my continued best Wishes for
you & all your's & believe me on every
Occasion, D^r Sir,

I thank you for the
Henning &c & Salty
is much obliged for
the Instruments