John Carter to Landon Carter

Shirley, July 11, 1739

Dear Brother

Your messenger William Garland is in great haste, which occasions my sending off the Negroes today, tho' the Weather doth not seem to be well settled for such a long Journey. I expect a Ship in a few days from the Gold Coast, and if you think proper to take any of the Slaves, the Choice must be made by yourself, few persons agreeing in Opinion; and to tell you the truth I do not like the Choice I made for you so well as when I took them from the Ship about a week ago. I have charged Billy Garlands man to you at the price of your own Twenty pounds Sterl- the young woman at £19 Sterl- and the Girl £15 Sterl. the same I have charged to others. I can only say I have done the best I can for you, and if you dislike the Choices, or the price, provided they receive no Injury by Traveling, you may send them by Short Journeyes to Totuskey [?], from thence to Merateis, & so down to Corotoman. But Billy Garland is to keep the man he chose for himself, who is not by a good deal so tall as your man. I much fear we shall lose the race tomorrow, your Horse

[missing] now more ungovernable than ever; and I believe I shall be obliged to make Sam ride him with a pair of spurs. The Negroes being all sold except four that are not worth a farthing, there can be no doubt of my being at Corotoman about the 25th, when I hope to see you and my Brother Charles, I suppose Gumby will call on you in his way hither, that you may have an opportunity of writing to me; and as you may have many opportunities to the Falls, I desire you will write to my Brother that I shall be at Corotoman, notwithstanding any thing he may hear to the contrary. I am
your most affectionate Brother,
John Carter

Bibliographic Information

Availability

Available to the general public at URL: /gos/

Text and images © copyright 2003, by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia