Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, 1769 September 16

Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, 1769 September 16

Robert Carter Nicholas, Williamsburg, Virginia, letter to John Norton, merchant of London, England, dated September 16, 1769. Nicholas writes about the destruction of crops and shipping occasioned by a hurricane in Virginia. Nicholas also writes concerning the accounts of Cocke and Wray to order scales for his office and to ask what the British government intends to do about the American colonies.

MS 1936.3.249
Folder 22

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

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

Ink on paper

[Page 1]

It is probable, before this gets to Hand,
you will have heard of the Misfortune which
our Crops have met with. We had the 8th. Instant
the most violent Gust of Wind & Rain that the
oldest Man I have seen ever remembers; I yesterday
was told that it did not reach more than forty
Miles above the Falls of James River; those whose
Plantations exceed that Distance, if they have
escaped, were particularly fortunate, as all
the Tobacco standing out, where the Storm raged, is
totally destroy'd, & tis generally thought that much
is damaged in the Houses. Our Corn is much
injured, & the Fodder almost totally destroy'd.
It was very lucky that Robertson & Outram were
gone, as most of the Sips remaining in the
Country were drove on Shore. I mention these
Things that you may make a proper use
of them. Tobacco will surely take a Start, & tho' so
general a Calamity is much to be lamented,
it would be but prudent in those, who have
escaped to avail themselves of their good For:
tune, especially in the Instance of a mere
Luxury of Life. I don't know what Orders for
Goods Messrs. Cocke & Wray may have sent you

[Page 2]

this Fall; but you'll be pleased to take Notice
that I engage one farther for them' having at first
only lent my Name to set them afloat; whatever
Remittances they have mad or shall make hereaf:
ter, I expect you will apply to the Credit of
those Cargoes I am engaged for, this I'm sure you'll
think just. I don't mean by what I have said,
to minimate that I think there will be any Risque
in your giving these Gentlemen a moderate
Credit on their own Accounts; they appear to
be frugal & industrious, but I would not
chuse to engage for the Success of any
Man's Trade at large; you'll be best able
to judge what you may expect from the
Remittances they make. I shall speak these
same Sentiments to Mr. Norton, when I see
him. I am much in Want of a pair of nice &
large Scales for weighing Gold in my Office
with a compleat Sett of Weights & two Setts
of Grains; I would have them of the very
best Sort & fix'd to a standard, so as to be
raised or lower'd by a Pully, & should be
glad to receive them by the very first
Opportunity. We are impatient to know
with Certainty what the great Dons on that
Side of the Water intend to do with the poor
Americans; but suppose we shall soon hear.

[Page 3, blank]

[Page 4]

Virginia 16 September 1769
R C Nicholas
Received the 14 February 1770

per Brilli
per Mr. Brakenridge

Goods Entered page: 156
Answered the 16 March: 1770
per Brilliant

James Cocke & Company	Dr.	1521.	5.	10
	Cr	1080.	17.	9
	Ballance £	.440.	8.	1

Cock & Wray ^credit for 2 bills	£116.	18.	6
received -	69.	10	-
	186.	8.	6