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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from George Vaughan to [Arthur Dobbs]
Vaughan, George
October 10, 1754
Volume 05, Pages 144b-144c

[From MSS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]

Lisbourn 10th Octr 1754

Dr Sr

Since we Parted in Dublin I have Been as Assiduous as in my Power in Purchasing a Cargo & in furnishing & Equipping my new Ship for the Purposes then Mentioned to you in the Strongest and in every Respect in the most Compleat manner and as such it was impossible for me to Bring her to the Harbour of Belfast before the first Inst by means of which unavoidably Delay I apprehend the ship has lost Three fourths of her Passengers she might very Commodiously carried according to your Scheme which She shall Constantly Pursue untill my Charitable donation be fully Compleated and as much longer as you may Advise my Nephew John Sampson and me, twas the dependance I had on your goodness & Publick Sperritt. which I Observed from my Earlyest Acquaintance with you that under God induc'd to the donation of one thousand Pounds yearly for ever for the Propigation of the Gospell among the Indian Nations in and near your Government & that you & your Successers as Governours, the Councill, & the Assembly of North Carolina be Perpetuall Trustees for this donation to commence after the death of my sd Nephew on whome I depend to enlarge this my Gift to North Carolina as thereby he may be enabled at his Death my said Nephew whome I Brought from said Province by my Letters to him to said Purpose having Informed me that he shew my letters to some of the Members of your Councill and Assembly for said Province & that they Assured Him that Provided my donation was not Confined to the Indians Only, but made to Extend as an Academy or Seminary for Religion and learning to all his Majesties Subjects in North Carolina they in that Case would Enlarge my donation by a reasonable Tax on each Negroe in that Province whereupon my Lawyer whome I fee'd to draw Propper deeds for me to Execute to that Effect in Confirance with my Lord Bishop of Derry then ready to imbark for England they Both concur'd in advising me to surspend the Execution of said Deeds so

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Prepared untill by some Act of Assembly a Perpetuall Tax was fixed to induce me to Alter my Originall Scheme and untill said Bishop in Confirance with the Society in London for the Propegation of the Gospell and on their Recommendation to the King and Councill a Charter & farther Encouragement may be Obtaind thus as I am Advised that an Act of Assembly in North Carolina is Previously Nessessary to my Executing said Deeds & Previously Necessary to Induce the King and Councill to do the needfull on their Part so as this Publick good may be put on as Rational & lasting a foundation as Human Wisdom can advise I make no Doubt of your zeal and Expedition in laying the Purport of this my Letter in Propper form Before the states of said Province on your first Assembly of them by which & their Concurance as afsd the Deeds as afsd to be Executed by me and my Nephew Mr John Sampson shall go by him on his Next Return to North Carrolina & I make no Doubt but that he may also Carry with him what may be Necessary on the Part of our King and his Councill as afsd the Bishop of Derry who is my most Zealous Solicitor being now in London & there to Continue till about the first of may next & having the best Intrest at Court and in London of any Bishop in Ireland being now Hurried by other affairs I must for the Refreshment of your Memory as my Originall Scheame Refer you to my Letter to Mr John Sampson then in North Carrolina which Brot him to this Kingdom.

A True Extract from the Original Letter Subscribed
GEORGE VAUGHAN

Laid before the Assembly Decr 24 & read in the House