John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1767 May 25

John Norton letter to John Hatley Norton, 1767 May 25

Letter of John Norton to his son, John Hatley Norton, concerning their mercantile business and trade in tobacco. Norton writes that he has sold Anderson's tobacco; Cary's tobacco is poor but hopes tobacco can be sold before hot weather arrives; a new hand has been hired in Thomas' place; hopes John Hatley can get more than enough tobacco for Captain Anderson.

MS 1936.3.56
Folder 5

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

London the 25^th May 1767

Dear Hatley

Herewith you have Copys of 2 Letters dat^d 10^th & 19^th May
sent you p M^r Ballard in Cap^t. Littell he being detained so long &
Cap^t. Lilly Bearer hereof sail:^g sooner than he expected. I imagine this
will get to hand as soon as the others. I have dispos'd of y^e remainder
of the Leaf Tob^o. of Anderson's Cargo for 2 7/8^d tho when I last wrote had
no better offer than 2 5/8^d for them but by hav:^g y^e Samp^s. fresh drawn,
I got a better Price than I expected. I agreed for M^r Cary's 4 hh'ds
at 2 3/4^d but upon the delivery they prov'd so ord:^y & so much decayed that
2 of them are refus'd & one of those which were taken proved so rotten
that I was obliged to abate 1/4 p in Price & glad to get if off. I dont
know the mean:^g of it but that Crop is not like the same Tob^a.
it used to be. I have now abo^t. 80 hh'ds unsold abo^t. 50 of them out
of Cap^t. Lilly. y^e new Tob^o. if not Sold before y^e hot weather comes
in will Loose I fear very greatly. I wish it could have sweated in
Virg^a. y^e Summer for the Buyers here dont like to touch it if they
can help it. Sev^l of y^e Stript's left are very mean pticularly y^e mob=
=jack Bay, M^r Brookes's, M^r Lyon's &c. I drew a fresh Sample
of Col^o. Baylor's hh'd that appeared grey & tho y^e meanest of his yet
tis better than the Samp: I expect if there is an Opprt:^y in abo^t. a M^o
I may be able to send y^e greatest part if not all the Acco^t. Sales.
Inclos'd is a Letter lately come to hand from M^r Johnston for you
We are pretty much in the same way you left us except that we have
a new hand in y^e room of Thomas who has left us & proposes live:^g
in y^e Country if I shou'd be lucky enough to get more Tob^o. than
my Charter in Anderson as Cap^t. Lilly's Wife's Relations are my
Fr'ds I shou'd be glad he cou'd have the Preference & have inform'd
him of the same. I refer you to him for Particulars of Family Oc=
=currences & w^th. all our best Wishes remain

D^r Hatley
Y^rs Affectionately
John Norton

have sold M^r Ford 17 hhd mostly New
Tob^a. at 10 2/4^d have only a few hhd^s of Stript
of Andersons Cargo Left

Address leaf

To
M^r John Hatley Norton
to be left at the Store of W^m. Nelson Esq^rs.
in York Town
Virginia

P Cap^t. Lilly

London 10^th 19^th 25^th May 1767
Rec^d. from J Norton
Sept 1767
Answered p C. Lilly
Nov^r. 1767

This has been answ^d.
in part some time
ago