Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, 1769 January 12

Title

Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, 1769 January 12

Date

Description

Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, merchant in London, England. Nicholas writes Norton concerning 8 bills of exchange and his desire that Norton open a separate account with Nicholas for these so that they not be confused with his personal account. Nicholas also complains about the scarcity of cash in Virginia and the difficulty of dealing with bills of exchange. Nicholas informs Norton that he has drawn on him for Mary Davenport and that his losses involving his slaves and his tobacco crop have left him strapped for cash.

Identifier

MS 1936.3.167
Folder 16

Source

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

Publisher

Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Original Format

Ink on paper

Text


Recto

Williamsburg 12th Jany 1769.

Dear Sir

The great Scarcity of Cash amongst us obliges
me Some Times to take Bills of Exchange; which
I can't conveniently negociate without the Assistance
of you or some other Friend in London, & knowing
your willingness to oblige me, I shall make no farther
Apology for troubling you with the eight inclosed
Bills amounting to £1364.15.9½. drawn upon Scotland
but chiefly payable in London at 40 Days Sight.
I shall be obliged, if you'll be pleased to open with
me as Treasurer, a distinct Account, that these
Matters may not be blended with my private
Concerns. The Country will be indebted to our agent Mr.
Montagu some Time next March £1000 Stg. wch.
I shall have occasion to draw for; I did not think
it handsome to send him to Scotland for his Money,
& good London Bills are so scarce, that I thought
it best to avail myself of your Friendship, &
have taken most of the Bills at fewer Days Sight,
than the common issuance, that you might be
in Cash; perhaps I shall have Occasion to draw
on you for the Bala., if the Money should
be wanted. As I have never before ventur'd
to take Bills instead of Money, I don't know whe:
ther the Assembly will approve of it, but am
willing to run the Risque, till I know their Sense
of the Matter. I have lately drawn on you for £100
Stg in favr. of Miss Mary Davenport, wch. you'll be pleased


Page 2

to honour. The Losses I have sustain'd amongst my
Slaves & the large Quantity of Tobo. I purchased last
year, have left me pretty bare of Cash, so that I may
soon have Occasion to make a farther use of yr.
Friendship, but you may depend that I will not
suffer you to be long, if at all, in Advance for
me. You have a particular List of the Bills be
low & I trouble you with a Memo. for a few Books
for my Boys, which you'll be pleased to send
by the first Opportunity. Wishing you & yours'
a Series, a long & uninterrupted Series of
happy Years, I remain very truly, Dr. Sir,

Yr. affte. & much obliged hble. Sert
Ro. C. Nicholas

Yr. Son is up the Country
so that I can't speak positively
of his Health, but believe
he's well

List of Bills sent

Ro. Donald on Donald & Co. for £ 313 18   4½
do. do.     60    
Alexr. McCaul on Rippen & Co.   292 14 10
Danl. McCallum on Speirs & Co.   200    
Jno. Stewart on Cockram & Co.   150    
Jno. Esdale on Speirs & Co.   138   2   7
David Carghill on Speirs & Co.   110    
Do. do.   100    
  £ 1364 15   9½

If any Expence attends negociating these Bills you'll
be pleased to note it particularly, as the Drawers
are to make it good to me.

 

Address leaf

burg the 12 Jany 1769
R C Nicholas
Rd. 20th April 1769
p Lunn & Loyd
Goods entd. pa: Coppy

Ansd th April 1769
p Cozens

Citation

Nicholas, Robert Carter, 1728-1780, “Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, 1769 January 12,” John Norton & Sons Papers, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, accessed March 28, 2024, https://rocklibnorton.omeka.net/items/show/167.