Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton & Son, 1772 May 20

Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton & Son, 1772 May 20

Robert Carter Nicholas letter to John Norton, merchant of London, England. Nicholas writes to recommend Mr. Earnshaw and about various financial matters including his involvement in former the estate of Lord Botetourt, former governor of Virginia. Nicholas also thanks Norton for his efforts of Virginia's behalf regarding the coining of copper currency and mentions that John Hatley Norton is well. Nicholas writes that the death of Mr. Mill, to whom he was indebted, may cause him increased financial hardship as it followed flooding which greatly damaged his plantations.

MS1936.3.658
Folder 59

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

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

Ink on paper

Page 1

Williamsburg 20^th. May 1772.

Dear Sirs.

You will receive this by M^r. Earnshaw,
the Collector in the upper District of James River;
he is a very good Sort of Man & I take the Liberty
of recommending him to your Civilities. He
has my Bills on you for £170..5.9 st.g, which
you'll be pleased to charge to my Treasury
Account. I have given M^r. Robert Miller a Bill
on you for £50 st.^g on my private Acc^t., which
you'll oblige me by paying in Course; & I have
this Day sent the Duke of Beaufort a Bill
for £205.10 st.^g on the Treasury acc^t.; this closes
my Account of Lord Botetourt's affairs, so far as
my Receipts go at present. You'll receive inclosed
Col^o. Rich^d. Randolph's Exch^a. on Farel & c^o. for
£200 st.^g, which be pleased to pass to the Credit
of my Acc^t. as Treasurer, when paid; as I hope
it will be punctually; if otherwise, pray re:,
turn it to me by the very first Opportunity.
It gave me great Concern to hear of the Death
of my old Acquaintance & Friend M^r. John
Mill; I understand M^r. Oswald has the chief
Management of his Affairs. I had M^r. Mills
assurance that the Money I borrow'd of him sh^d.
not be demanded of me, till it was convenient

Page 2

to me to pay it; this encouraged me to enlarge my
Virg^a. Estate, in which I sustain'd very heavy Losses
by the Fresh last year; I not only lost the most
valuable part of my Crop, but a great deal
of very fine Land, & my Plantations were
put so much out of Sorts, that it will take some
time & a considerable Expence to put them
to Rights. I hope M^r. Mills' Executor will be
contented to receive Interest till I can conve:
niently pay the Principal, which I think
you may venture to assure him is as safe
as he could with it I shall be much obliged by
your usual friendly Offices on this Occasion.
I write to M^r. Oswald by this same conveyance
under your Cover. Your J.H.N is pretty
well, tho he has had a slight Touch of the
Ague & fever. Our Tob.^o is late from the back
Country this Year; how my Crop will turn
out, I don't know; but I will give Cap^t. Robert:
son all the Assistance I can; Goosely I'm in
hopes will not want. We have Nothing new
worth communicating. My best Wishes ever
attend you & your's, as I am very truly,

D^r. Sirs,
y^r. Aff^te. hble Serv^t.
Ro. C Nicholas

I have by different
Opportunities advised
that our Assembly very chearfully
acquiesses in Lord Hilsboroughs
Proposals respecting the Copper Money, & we are all thank
ful

Page 3

for the great Pains you have been at about
the Statue.

Page 4

Virg^a. 20^th May 1772
R.C. Nicholas
Rec.^d the 16^th July
Ans^d the 8^th August Ex'd
P Barron