Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, 1769 May 31

Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, merchant in London, England. Nicholas writes concerning his tobacco crop; repairs for the Capitol steps and the British imperial crisis. Nicholas informs Norton that he is not certain of the quantity or quality of the tobacco he intends to ship but he has already purchased 20 hogsheads for shipment with Captain Outram. Nicholas writes that he needs stone to repair the Capitol steps and has written to John Perkes in Bristol from where the best stone comes. Nicholas wishes Norton to assist Perkes if the stone is not available from Bristol.

Nicholas writes at length about the imperial crisis. He is sure Norton has heard about the Association which called on colonists to refrain from purchasing certain British goods until the repeal of the Townshend Acts. He is sorry if this will hurt British merchants but is surprised that those merchants have been so passive. Nicholas lets Norton know he supports the Association and that he should expect few orders in the coming year. Nicholas goes on to suggest that Virginians may give up producing their staple crop of tobacco to produce "the Necessaries of Life."

Recto

Williamsburg in Virg^a. 31^st. May 1769.

Dear Sir.

By this Opportunity, if not sooner,
you will hear of Cap^t. Robertson's Arrival.
I don't know myself yet what Quantity of
Tob^o. I shall ship you, as I am really afraid of
the Quality of great Part of my own Crop; I am
looking out for such Tob^o. as I think will suit your
market sooner better & have already purchased 20
Hogsheads, which will be shipt on Board Cap^t.
Outram; you'll therefore be pleased to insure that
Quantity in such manner as you think most
for my Interest. I am in immediate Want of some
Stone to repair our Capitol Steps, & being inform'd that
such Articles come best from Bristol, I have wrote
to M^r. John Perkes of Bristol & sent him particular Direc-
tions, with a Request, if the Stone can't be procured
there to apply to you, & don't doubt but you will assist
him, in having the Things sent to me by the first
Opportunity. I send you Duplicates of three Bills
formerly remitted, lest the first should have miscar-
ried.

I don't doubt before this reaches you, but
you will have heard of the Dissolution of our Assem-
bly & of the Association we have been drove
to. It grieves me to think that we should be
obliged to do do any Thing, that may look like dis-
tressing our Fellow Subjects, but my Concern is much
alleviated that when I consider that it is in their Power,

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by a single Act of Justice, to restore Things to their
former happy Channel. I suppose M^r. Cheap & C^o.
have drawn upon you for my annual Pipe
of Wine; but I shall give them Directions to ship me
no more 'till further Orders. You may expect very
few Orders for Goods next Year; for my own Part,
I am resolved to import Nothing that I can possibly
do without, & believe this is the Resolution of most.
There is no Inconvenience or hardship, but what
I will submit to rather than desert the Cause, the
essential Interests of my Country. I am really astonish'd
that the Merchants have been so very passive;
what signified repealing a paltry stamp Act,
I call it so in a comparative Degree, if other Mea-
sures a thousand Times more oppressive, are pass'd
over unobserved? If the Steps we have already
taken do not produce their desired Effect,
the Virginians must in a great Measure
desert their Staple to provide the Necessa-
ries of Life. I thank God I am pretty well
recover'd from my severe Indisposition &
hope this will find you & your good Family
in perfect Health. Your Son was very
well on Monday Morning on his Way to
Hanover. I shall pay my farther Respects to you
by some other Opportunity & in the mean
Time remain very truly, D^r. Sir,

Y^r. aff^te. hb^le. Ser^t.
Ro. C. Nicholas

Address leaf

Virg^a. 31^st May 1769
R. C. Nicholas

Receiv'd y^e. 25^th July

Ans^d 28^th July 1769
p Cap^t. Clarke