Letter from a Gentleman in North-Carolina

v2:1757

Edonton, July 31, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We wrote to you the seventeenth instant, since which we have not been honoured with any of your favours. With this you will receive a bill of lading for the cargo of the Brigantine Charming Betsey, John Boyle master, (by whom this goes,) which you will please to dispose of to the best advantage for our interest, and place the nett proceeds to our credit with you. You will observe the brig has only six lay days, and beg the favour you will have her discharged, so as we may not be subjected to damage.

We expect to send you another vessel, with such another cargo, before the exportation is stopped, which will be the tenth of next September; but we shall write you more at large by a ship to sail from hence to London in about two weeks. All our remittances must hereafter be by bills; we have laid ourselves out to remit you in that way, as all other is now in a fair way of being entirely shut up. We are in a terrible situation indeed; all trade here is now at an end, and when it will again be revived God only knows. Every American, to a man, is determined to die or be free. We are convinced nothing can restore peace to this unhappy Country, and render the liberties of yours secure, but a total change of the present Ministry, who are considered in this Country as enemies to the freedom of the human race, like so many master devils in the infernal regions, sending out their servants, furies, to torment wherever they choose their internal vengeance should fall.

Permit us, dear Sirs, as you have exerted yourselves, to try another effort to save from destruction the once, and but lately, most flourishing Empire in the world.

We do not want to be independent; we want no revolution, unless a change of Ministry and measures would be deemed such. We are loyal subjects to our present most gracious Sovereign, in support of whose crown and dignity we would sacrifice our lives, and willingly launch out every shilling of our property, he only defending our liberties. This Country, without some step is taken, and that soon, will be inevitably lost to the Mother Country. We say again, for the love of Heaven, for the love of liberty, the interest of posterity, we conjure you to exert yourselves. Petition again; the eyes of our most gracious Sovereign may yet be opened, and he may see what things are for his real interest, before they are eternally hid from his eyes. We can vouch for the loyalty of every one in this part of the Province. We beg your pardon for troubling you on the subject of politicks so much as we have done; but we hope you will excuse us, when we tell you our all depends on the determination of Parliament.

We have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your most obliged humble servants.