George Washington Papers

From George Washington to James Gildart, 3 April 1761

To James Gildart

Williamsburg 3d April 1761

Sir,

Several of your favours now lye before me, but the last of Novr 9th I shall particularly take notice of1—with astonishment then did I receive the Account of Sales of that Hhd Tobo pr the Everton where only £8.4.1¼ is renderd for it2 at the sametime that Mr Cary was selling the like Tobo at £17 & 18£ a Hhd. As to the exceptions which for two or three years past you have made to the quality of the Tobacco, give me leave to say Sir ’tis altogether inconsistent—We continue the same management as usual, and the Tobo Consignd you has been made at the same Plantations—by the same hands—and under the same Overseers as that sent Mr Cary—no picking or choosing of Hhds has ever been allowd of, but promiscuously taken for both as the Ships has a demand for it—he never gives less than twelve but generally Sixteen pounds a Hhd ’tis unreasonable therefore to expect I can continue a Corrispondance under such obvious Disadvantages. I am Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington

ALB, DLC:GW.

James Gildart was a tobacco merchant of Liverpool with whom the Custises had had dealings.

1Letter not found.

2The account of sales to which GW refers is dated at Liverpool, 18 Aug. 1760, by James Gildart (ViHi: Custis Papers). The Everton, Capt. Thomas Kelly (Kelley), sailed from York River on 27 Aug. 1759. GW shipped one hogshead marked DPC in the Everton, for which Gildart credited £8.4.1½ (General Ledger A description begins General Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. description ends , folio 107).

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