Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton & Son, 1771 November 12

Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton & Son, 1771 November 12

Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, merchant of London, England. Nicholas writes his debts, including that to Lord Botetourt's estate, and tobacco shipments; the Exchange; Norton's efforts on behalf of Virginia regarding the issue of copper currency; Mrs. Nicholas's desire for a few items and the death of his brother George. Nicholas sent an invoice of goods for the use of his brother's family with this letter.

MS1936.3.551
Folder 50

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

Williamsburg 12^th. Nov^r. 1771.

Dear Sirs.

Cap^t. Robertson being a good deal embarrass'd
just before his Departure, I suppose had not time to
call upon me & I did not receive his Bills of Loading time
enough to forward them by your Ship. Your J.H.N. as
well as the Captain mistook my intention as to the five
Hogsheads purchased of M^r. Ambler's Overseer ; they were
on the Estate's Account & intended to supply the Deficiency
by Cap^t. Goosley. You'll see they are included in my
Bill of Loading inclosed, you'll be pleased to credit the
Estate for them; the others are upon my own Acc^t., as
noted.

Upon settling my Account with the Estate of
our late worthy Governor, I find I fall in debt £285.3.10
curr^t., for which Sum I have not been able to procure
a good Bill on Landon & have therefore taken the
Liberty of drawing on you for £237.11.10, as I can't bear
to be in arrears on an Account of this Sort. There was
an amazing struggle at our last Court about the Exchange;
the Drawers endeavour'd to raise it, upon the Emission
of the Money to pay for lost Tob^o. This I consider'd as
rather unhandsome, considering the issuing of such a Sum
of Money as an Exertion of public faith to recompence
some of these very drawers. I had the pleasure to
find them mistaken & disappointed, the Exch^a. remaining
status quo. A great deal of this Money falling into the
Hands of the Scotch factors they had the less Occasion
to draw, & none of them I believe made their Bills
payable in London. I shall by this same Oppor

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tunity send his Grace other Bills, which I hope will meet
with due honor; but, shou'd any of them be protested, I
shall desire him to present them to you, & beg the favour
of you to pay them for my Hon^r.; they are all I am
sure ultimately good, &, in case of a protest you may
either consider the Bills as y^r. Property & receive the
ten per c^t. or charge common Interest for advancing
the Money. I have been favour'd with y^r. Answer
respecting Copper Money, but have nothing to add
to what I formerly wrote on that Subject, except my
sincere thanks for the trouble you have taken;
I know you will act for the best & therefore rely en:
tirely on your good Offices.

M^rs. Nicholas is in want of a couple of
small looking Glasses for Chambers; which you'll be
pleased to send me; I would have them cheap &
neat without Drawers.

I have lately had the Misfortune to lose my
Brother M^r. George Nicholas his Family will want
a few necessaries, which I wish to procure on the easiest
Terms, you'll therefore be pleased to send them according
to the within Invoice & charge them to me in a sepe
rate Account; I would have them packt by them.:
selves &, if possible landed at once at Petersburg,
otherwise deliver'd to me here. I am, D^r. Sirs,
with much Esteem

Y^r. obliged & ob^t. Serv^t.
Ro. C. Nicholas

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Virg^a. 12 Nov. 1771
Ro: C: Nicholas
Rec'd the 2^d March 1772
Ex'd
Goods for sundries
ent^d. pa: 72
Ans^d the 25 Mar.
P Robertson