Archibald Ritchie letter to John Norton & Sons, 1775 August 16

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Virginia Rapp^a. River Aug^t. 16^th. 1775

Sir

Your Ship London being in York, & taking
so much of M^r. Hansons ^Tobo. render'd it unnecessary for me to
make any Application to Cap^t. Robinson, therefore as a
Testimony for old acquaintance & friendship for you I have
shipt aboard the Hamilton Cap^t. John Bowie some Tob^o.
Ten hhds of which will be to your address, not doubting
but you will do as well in the disposal of it as if it
were your own, I flatter myself with higher sales for it than
I ever had, for depend on it there will not be one Ounce shipt
after the 10^th. next month untill these unhappy disputes between
Great Britain & the Colonys are settled, & Sorry I am to think
that period is at so great a distance ~ from the Appearance
that all intercourse between us will be cut off for some time,
be pleased to put any Letters you may think proper to honour
me with under Cover to Mess^rs. Hugh Campbell & C^o. Merch^ts
in S^t. Johns Antigua (a House I have fixed there) from thence
I can readily gett them, either by some my own Vessells or others,
altho' we be hindred from sending any thing there, we may
Import Rum & Sugar by the resolutions of Congress _

When ever things are happily Established again I shall
want a quantity of Goods for my Stores, about £3000 a year
has been

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has been my usual import, therefore be pleased to advise
me in your first, the Commission you charge on buying, to
be paid in Twelve Months, either in Bills of Exchange or
Tobacco as may suit me best, phaps it might be full
as agreeable to you to receive a Tobacco payment here at
the Cash price, it it be say so, I own I would prefer the
the Latter. ~the Hamilton I expect will leave
this about a week hence, I am

Sir
Your most Ob^t. Serv^t
Archibald Ritchie

M^r John Norton & Sons Merch^ts. London

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To
Mess^rs. John Norton & Son
Merch^ts. in
London

Virg^a:16 August 1775
Archibald Ritchie
Rec^d. 11 Oct^o. Ex^d:

Ans^d. the     Nov^r