John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1767 May 19

John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1767 May 19

John Norton letter to his son John Hatley Norton concerning their mercantile business. Norton mentions the depressed state of tobacco prices and the despicable price paid for tobacco by the Glasgow merchants. He also mentions the arrival of John Frere and the pending arrival of Frere's fiancee.

MS 1936.3.55
Folder 5

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

London the 19^th. May 1767

Dear Hatley

Cap^t. Littell being detained longer than he expected
gives me Opport:^y of add:^g a few more Lines just to advise,
you we are all well M^cNabb & Fox are just arriv'd but
have no Letters of any consequence p them. The Market is
rather stiffned for good. Tob^o. but y^e Arriv^l. of these 2 Ships
will not I suppose help it much. I have lately sold Clarke &
Leake 6 hh'ds Stript Leaf 3 at 10 1/4^d & 3 at 10^d also 5 hh'ds to R:^d
Vaux 4 Stem'd, 2 J: Baylor's EWD & 1 M^r. Nelson Berkley's
at 3 1/2^d y^e other a Hh'd Leaf PP at 3^d also Fonblanque 30 odd hhds
p^t out of Anderson at 2 7/8^d & p^t out of Lilly at 2 5/8^d also 8 hh'ds Shag
Tob^o. to Croger I hope to get 2 3/4^d for y^e remain^rs of the Shippers in
Anderson tho have not been offer'd as yet but 2 5/8^d for them they
are neither dry nor Stout M^r. Baylor has 1 hh'd unsold 'tis as
grey as a Badger & great p^t. of it appears by the Sample to be perish'd M^r. Peter Lyons
& some others in y^e same State. I must endeavor to gett them
off before warm Weather comes in. very little appear^ce. of Summer
as yet We have not been at Putney but have thoughts
of goe:^g soon. I shall be prepar:^g to get y^e Acc^ts Sales made out
& expect shall send them all or near it in a M^o or 6 Weeks
if any opport^y abo^t that Time, to be sure they are far from being
equal to my wishes but still I think they will at least be as
good as my Neighbo^rs. for Tob^o. of the same Quality. I believe y^e
Crop will come to a very clear Market there being little old on
hand. W^m. Hill has not yet rec'd M^r. Nelson's Tob^o. &ca which is
abominable, tho it cant be helped. M^r. Maxwell has not p^d. M^r.
Page's drat. rem^d by M^r. Prentis tho the days are expired he tells

Page 2

 

me if there is Effects when the Leeds Anderson arrives he will
let me know whether he will pay it or not & desires me to keep
it till that Time tis noted properly. When y^e n^t pceeds of the
Tob^o. are ent^d to the credit of those to whom they belong shall make
out a List of D^rs & send you there has been abo^t 4000 hh'ds
Virg^a. & Mary l^d. Tob^o. sold y^e French at this port a 2 1/8^d am
informed y^e Glasgow People are now sell:^g them a 1 15/16^d which
is a despicable Price. M^r. John Frere is just come to Town & has
Lodge^gs in y^e Strand, his Flame is expected soon from Bath

 

Our best Wishes attend you & all Fr'ds in Virg^a. I remain

D^r. Hatley
Your's Affectionately
John Norton

 

PS Cap^t Lilly talks of sail^g in ab^ot
10 days shall probably write you
again p him

 

There is little Presented
to me for Acceptance a Bill drawn by M^r.
Smith dat^d. 20^t Aug^st last for £305.1.6 pay^a.
to M^r. Pride there is no letter of advice neither did M^r. Smith in all
y^e conversation we had together ever mention a word about it or
propose any provision for paym^t of it, by its being kept back so
long I cant think but M^r. Smith may have agreed w^th M^r. Pride
that y^e Bill shou'd not be sent home & that he was to pay it
at his return in Virg^a. I am at a Loss to guess & therefore M^r. Smith
cant blame me for its being return'^d when y^e days are out there
has been a Man in y^e Minories call on me to demand payment
for a matrass near £3 but y^r. Mother & M^r. Witheres think they
heard M^r. Smith say he had pay^e for it shou'd be glad you
woud enquire about it & lett me know The Leeds Anderson is
just Arriv^d.

Address leaf

 

To
M^r. John Hatley Norton
Virginia
p fav^r. M^r. Ballard

 

London 10^th & 19^th May 1767
Rec^d from J Norton
Sepr 1767