Carter-letterbook-uva-lib_770603

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with a merchant whom we confide in to bring a suit against another who has injur'd us and indeed I can't see how it should be an imputation upon a body of men that the faults of bad behavour of an unworthy member should be at anytime expos'd to the publick. I cannot believe but that these Exrs. [executors] must have conceal'd their affairs for otherwise how should this young gentleman set up for a mercht. whilst his father dyed [insolvant?]? I had his promise a little before he went from Virginia to pay seventy eight pounds to Mayr. Lightfoot which was justly due to me from his father upon my own particular accot. [account] but he forgot his word and chose to pay the bill of exchg. [exchange] for one hundred & fifty pounds where he had no effects (in order to encourage a [futner?] correspondence as I suppose) rather than discharge a debt which he knew to be due to me. I will trouble you no farther then to assure you that I am.

Sir

Your Most Humble Servt.

John Carter

By the Sporswood Copy by the Burwell

_____________________________________________________________

Messrs. Oswald & Coma.

Rappahanock Aug 13th

This is a line via London to acknowledge the receipt of your goods & letters sent by the Thistle & Martha, and to advise you of a bill of exchange I have drawn on you payable to John Grymes Eqr. for twenty seven pounds fourteen shillg. & nine pence which I desire you to discarge in time I intend to write to you by the Martha to which I referry. on & am.

Gentlemen

You Most Humble Servt.

John Carter

By the Spotswood Copy by the Burwell

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Cortomon Aug 20th 1733

Edward Sucher Esqr.

Sir,

Besides the two hhd. of beer which my brother & my self have in our joint letter of the oth instant desired you to send us in, I now desire you will send me four hhd. more bottled & charge them to my accot. [account] two of them are for Sir John Randolph to me marked IR, the other two,

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two for Capt. Vincent Pearce to be marked VP; Both these gentlemen are now at my house, & having no better oppert. desire my assistance in this matter.

I am

Sir,

Your most humble Servant

John Carter.

By the Portland

--------------------------------------------[in pencil:] Inbably M. Fane see [illegible]

Corotomon August 21th 1733

Sir,

My father in his lifetime had a correspondence with Mr Hyde & Mr Bradley, who were intrusted by him to sell several large quantities of tobacco, of which they render Accts. from time to time, but at length concurred in a very unjust charge which he resolved not submit to.

The matter in dispute between us is fully set fourth in a letter of attorney, wherein I have taken the liberty to insert your name with Mr. Watson an attorney of the Middle Temple; & is of such a nature as is not fit to be managed by any of the merchants who usually transact all our affairs, because they are all guilty of the same thing upon some occasions;

The question being how long the people of this country Shall be answerable for the duty & charges of tobaco in case of a buyer's failing & whether after a reasonable time factors do not become changeable with losses which happen upon a long creadit.

The difference between us is irreconcile able in this point; & therefore I have determened to decline all sort, of compromise & to bring it to a solemn determiniation in Westminster Hall, as much for the sake of the general good of this colony as my own private interest; which I don't doubt will stir up the whole body of tobo. factors to defend these two gentlemen for this reason, and because I can think of no person in whom I can put so much confidence. I persuade my self you will excuse the trouble I desire you to take in this cause wherein a whole county is concerned.

I have joined Mr. Watson as a deligent & capable attorney who I hope will attend you & pursue such directing as you shall think fit to give him. And tho' I flatter my self from the friendship which I have had the honour formely to cultivate with you it may be unnecessary to mention

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tion how far I shall think of my self obliged to make you amends for this favour. I do assure you I shall acquit myselft to your satisfaction, as I shall upon all occasions be desirous to show with how much regard. I am

Sir,

Your Most Humble Servant

John Carter

By the Bailey

_________________________________________________________________________

Corotomon Aug 20th 1783

Sir, [in pencil:] probably to Mr. Watson see opposite

You being recommended to me by Sir John Randolph as an honest and diligent man in business I have desired the bearer to deliver this with a letter of attorney & the probate of the last will of my father, that you may be impowered to bring a point which you will find in dispute between his execrs. [executors] & Mr. Hyde & Mr. Bradley of great importance to the people of this colony before one of the courts of Westminster, that it may there be solemnly determined.

The case is fully set fourth in the letter of attorney. The papers that will prove it are lodged in the hands of Mr. Alderman Perry, who will deliver them to you when you desire it of him. I have joined Mr. Fane, an old acquaintance of mine, with you, who I dare say will contribute his good offices on my behalf, but I rely chiefly on you to take all the troublesome part of the business upon your self.

The matter to be well considered in the first place is whether it be best to bring an action at common law or a suit in chancery. I had rather have it determined at common law if council should be of opinion that an accnt. [account] signed by a merchant is insufficient to maintain an action, as I can't doubt but it will, because it will be sooner & more easily decided. I have chosen to commit the management of this affair principally to you, without troubling any merchant about it: having no reason to expect, I can have justice done me by their assistance in a case of this nature & I would not have them in any manner concerned in it, for this reason I have not by this opportunity given orders to any of my correspondents to pay you any money; but as to that i suppose

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suppose you will depend upon my doing what I ought upon such an occasion, for which my friend Sir John Randolph will answer. I must desire you to use all your diligence, & advise me from time to time how you proceed, it being an affair of such consequence that did the concerns of my family permit me I would go to England to prosecute it there my self. I am.

Sir, Your Most Humble Servant

John Carter ______________________________________________________________________

Mr Wm. Dawkins

Corotoman Sept 11th 1733

Sir,

I have inclosed Col. Ball bill of exchange on you for thirty one pounds sixteen shillings & nine pence three farthings & a small bill of Mr. Rawleigh Chinn for three pounds. I have also sent you bills of lading for the following quantity is of tobo. by Capt. Dove (Viz) low hhds NB 1 2. paid me by doctor Nicholas & consigned to you on acct. of my fathers estate, & five hhds NB 3.4.5.6.7 consigned to you on acct. of Mayr. Burwell's estate. But you must account to my father's estate for the third part of one of these hhds, because otherwise Dr. Nicholas would not have his full third part of the crop which is seven hhds, in all twelve hhds stem'd tobo. ERC & nine [aronoko] by mistake mark'd of the same marke, besides four on accot. of my Robert's estate, concerning which I have already writ pretty fully.

I must here advise you of a bill of exchange that I have drawn on you to Capt. Tho. Dove it is for some goods yt. my brother Charles & I bought of him. The billister on half of which is to be charged to his particular accot. & the other to mine. Altho the bills may not perhaps be sign'd by him he haveing the misfortune to loose his eldest son yesterday, a fine boy, & he is now bringing the body to this place to be buried at our church. I shall write to you in a few days concerning my brother George's affairs, & am in the meantime, Sir,

Your Most Humble Servant,

John Carter

By the Bailey, Copy by the cheap Capt Waff

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Mr. Wm. Dawkins

Corotomon Sept [2th] 1733

Sir,

This is a line to you concerning our affair with the execs. [executors] of Falconar. I intended to have sent a power of attorney, that we might have obtained justice by a judical determination of the matter, but have not yet done it; & if you can conclude this business in a less troublesome way, I am content that Colonel Page's debt be deducted as also the hundred & fifty pounds due from my brother Robert to young Falconar; & the ballance which shall then be due with thirty nine pounds they owe me, to be paid into your hands. I can hardly suppose that they won't come in to this but if it should happen otherwise, we resolve to use such a remedy as the law gives us.

If you send me your accot. against Colonel Pages I will order you payment if anything be due. I have sent you none of that tobacco it being all gone to Mr. Alderman. I am

Sir,

Your Most Humble Servant

John Carter

by the Bailey Copy by the Cheap Capt. Waff _________________________________________________________________________

Corotomon Sept [2th] 1736

Mr. Wm. Dawkins

Sir,

I have hither to omitted to say any thing about my brother George's affairs. This incloses an invoice of goods for the use of his estate, which I desire you send in some good ship into Rappahanock consigned to me on his accot. & resque as is therein direct. As my brother is under your care I send to you for these & because I intend you shall have the tobacco of his estate consined to you next year. I am

Sir,

Your Humble Servant

John Carter

by the bailey Copy by the Cheap Capt. Waff