Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, 1769 November 4

Robert Carter Nicholas, Treasurer of Virginia, letter to John Norton, merchant of London, concerning the state of currency in Virginia. Nicholas writes that the scarcity of money has necessitated the acceptance of bills of exchange for taxes. He asks Norton to negotiate them for him. Nicholas also writes about the base currency currently circulating and requests Norton send him a hydrostatic balance and treatise on the subject to help him detect base coins. Nicholas also requests Norton credit James Cocke 100 pounds sterling and charge it to his (Nicholas) account.

Nicholas enclosed a list of the bills of exchange sent with this letter.

Page 1

Williamsburg 4^th Nov^r. 1769.

Dear Sir

The extreme Scarcity of Cash, as I before inform'd
you, obliges me to take Bills of Exch^g. to assist the Collec:
tion of Taxes &^c. due to the Treasury, & your kindnesss in
negociating them for me will enable me effectually
to support the Credit of my Office, which I have very
much at Heart: the Trouble this may give you I must
endeavour to recompence you for some other way.
Whatever expences attend the Negociation, the Draw:
ers have agreed to make good to me; so that you'll be
pleased to keep an exact Account of each of them.
I now inclose you sundry Bills as p List amount^g. to £2,436..5..6
some of them are drawn immediately on London & the
rest payable there; the whole you'll be pleased to
place to my Credit, as Treasurer.

M^r. James Cocke being extremely anx:
ious to hasten his Remittances, I desire the Favour
of you to credit him £100 st.g & charge it to my private
Acc^t. I desire the Favour of you to send me with the
Money Seales formerly wrote for, one of the best Sort
of Hydrostatick Balances, for determining the fineness
of Gold & Silver with the most approved Treatise upon
the Subject; there a good deal of base coin circula:
amongst us & I must be a little upon my Guard.
I am with my best Wishes for you & all your's
D^r. Sir,
y^r. aff^te. ob^t. Ser^t.
Ro. C. Nicholas

Address leaf

Virginia Nov^r. 4^th 1769
Ro: C: Nicholas
rec^d. Dec^r. 26^th p Cap^t. Lilly
Goods en^t. pa: 156
Ans^d the 3 Jany 1776
p Cap^t. Ritchie

suppose Nicha^l. 1.6. each
bill on Glasgow pay^a in Lond^o
for postage