To George Washington from Capel & Osgood Hanbury, 11 October 1768
From Capel & Osgood Hanbury
London Octor 11th 1768
Esteem’d Friend
Inclos’d we send thy Account Current to the 1st of August last the recet of which please to acknowledge & that it proves right, or if otherwise to point out the Error, and it shall be rectified.1
We have the pleasure to advise the receipt of 9 Hhds Tobacco per Capt. Esten belonging to Master Custis, which we are using our best endeavors to make the most of, and shall forward the Sales as soon as it is in our power.2
It would give us great pleasure to partake of thy own Consignments, in the disposal of which we should be particularly ⟨attentive⟩ to thy Interest—Not having any of thy favors by us unanswer’d, we have only to advise that since the last Ships arrived, Tobacco has declin’d in price, The buyers conceiving a very strong Opinion that the Crops of Tobacco made in Virginia & Maryland this year will turn out very large, how far they may be right in their Sentiments time only can discover—the price at this time is from 3¼ to 3¾ upon Export, & from 10d. to 11d. upon Home Consumption but little fetches the latter of these prices. We are wit⟨h⟩ great Esteem Thy assured Friends
C. & O. Hanbury
LS, ViHi: Custis Papers. Addressed to GW at York River “⅌ The Hanbury Capt. [James] Esten.”
1. The account dated 31 July 1768 is in the Custis Papers (ViHi). The Hanburys wrote to John Parke Custis on 11 Oct. enclosing their account current with him, also dated 31 July; both are in the Custis Papers (ViHi).
2. See GW to Hanbury, 5 May 1768, n.2. Hanbury also addressed a letter to John Parke Custis on 11 Oct.: “We have the pleasure to advise the Receipt of thy 9 Hhds Tobacco ⅌ the Hanbury, which we are using our best Endeavours to make the most of, and hope soon to be ennabled to forward the Account Sales—We now inclose thy Account Current to the first of August last, which shall be glad to be inform’d proves right, or if otherwise, request the Error may be pointed out & it shall be rectified.
“Not having any of thy favours by us unanswer’d we have nothing particular to reply to, A Continuance of thy friendly assistance to the Bearer Capt. Esten will be a favour confer’d on us who are with Esteem Thy assured Friends C. & O. Hanbury” (ViHi: Custis Papers).