Peter Lyons letter to John Norton, 1771 September 5

Peter Lyons letter to John Norton, 1771 September 5

Peter Lyons letter to John Norton, merchant of London, England. Lyons writes about his tobacco shipment; to complain about the quality of goods tradesmen send to Virginia; the recent flooding; the sickly season which has impacted the health of John Hatley Norton and killed many Virginians some of whom Lyons lists; to express his regret that Norton is disparaged by some in England and to order wine and champagne. Lyons sent a separate invoice of merchandize with this letter.

MS1936.3.515
Folder 47

John Norton & Sons papers, MS1936.3

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

Hanover Sept^r. 25^th. 1771

Dear Sir

By Captⁿ. Esten I acknowledged the
receipt of your Letter with the sales of two Hhds
of Tobacco consigned you last Year, which was
so very pleasing, that I have this Year consigned
you six Hhds, and make no doubt of your
endeavours to serve me in the disposal of them.
I should have sent you more if I could have got an
opportunity of shipping them early to you, but I
had not interest enough to get a Hhd on board of
M^cCun or Goosley. I now inclose you an Invoice
of Goods to be sent me in the Spring which I fear
will exceed the value of the Tobacco, however you
may depend I will remit in due time for the deficien=
=cy after I know the sum.

It is really with concern that I mention
what I know you must be tired of hearing, that is,
the imposition of your Tradesmen and the badness
of their Goods, but their behaviour last Year was
so very gross that I think it my duty to inform
you of it, and now inclose you a Ltr for Mess^rs.

Page 2

Nash & C^o. with part of a piece of Handkerchief sent
me last Year, which I beg you will deliver them &
try to shame them for their behaviour; I know they
think anything good enough for Virginia, but they
should be informed better, and be made to know that
the people in Virginia have good taste and know
when they are imposed on, as well if not better than
most of their Gentry or Quality in England, and that
when they send to London it is to get the best of Goods,
in their kind not so much regarding price as quality, and that it
injures the Merch^t. as well as Tradesman when he
sends Goods that are indifferent or bad.

I find by the English papers you have had
a full account of our several great Freshes, which have
injured the Crops and ruined the Low grounds. We
had a long drought in August that was as fatal to
the high Lands as the Freshes were to the Low grounds
in so much that it is thought Wheat will be up to 5/.
the bushell & Corn at 20/ the barrel before next Summer
and I understand it is not expected that there will be above
half a Crop of Tobacco made, tho' the Weather of late has

Page 3

been favourable to the planters.

We have had a sickly Summer & Fall that
has carried off many old standers, and some valuable
men. I was long under apprehensions for my
Friend your Son, but he now seems to have
conquered his disorder and I hope will continue
in good health, I have recommended it to him not
to stay an other Fall in the lower parts of Virginia,
but to go to the Springs in Augusta or Frederick,
where he may enjoy health and good Company in
a pleasant Climate.

I observe by your last papers that your
Citizens are all running mad, and that Junius, Wilkes
Horn & Wilson occasion the destruction by making
fun of you, I really pitty you and wish all them
wicked Fellows were chained in Bedlam.

M^rs. Lyons & Miss Power join in
respectful Compliments to you M^rs. Norton and
all your good Family which concludes me

D^r Sir
Your very Hble Serv^t.
Pet^r. Lyons

Page 4

P.S.
Col^o. Snelson & myself have an inclination to taste
some good Burgundy & Champaign Wine, and therefore
shall be obliged to you to purchase for me two dozen
Bottles of each sort the best that can be had in London,
and have it carefully picked and sent by the first of your
Ships. I have given Captⁿ. Robinson a Wine Glass as
a pattern for two dozen mentioned in the Invoice to be
sent me.

Yrs &
P.L.

deaths

Francis Jordan
Col^o Richard Johnson
Bowler Cocke Sen^r. & Wife
Bowler Cocke Jun^r.
John Pleasants
Richmond Terrell Sen^r.
Henry Robinson &c &c &c
M^rs. Byrd
Geo. Taylor
Col^o. P. Quarles

M^r. John Norton London