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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from John Fallon to John Ancrum
Fallon, John
February 03, 1776
Volume 22, Pages 737-738

FROM JOHN FALLON TO JOHN ANCRUM.

February 3rd, 1776.

Mr. Ancrum, Sir:—

I am never, it seems, to have the honor of a line from you, either as a gentleman, or as a chairman of the Town Committee. From the frequency of my addresses, you may judge how passionately fond I am of an epistolary intercourse with one I so sincerely love as yourself. Why will you be so ungenerous as to decline all correspondence with so staunch a friend? As the servant of the public, as the moderator of this town committee, you was certainly bound, Mr. Ancrum, at least to let me know that you have related my demands to the committee, and that they were not granted. This was all I wanted; this was all I could request of you, or as a gentleman, or as a chairman. In both you have trespassed. For the former, the public will shortly avenge itself, in the injury offered to it in my person. For the latter, it shall be mine to acquit myself effectuallyand at once of all the manifold obligations, which, I am daily assured, I owe you, for your very polite epithets of one, even in your own house. These I consider as the exuberant, generous overflowings of your ancientattachment to my person. But, sir, the fire of such hatred as yours, the torrid rays of such indignation, instead of scorching, serve rather to illume and brighten me. The ladder calculated by you and another (as the executioners of my reputation), to mount me to the gallows, is the very I make use of to mount on and elevate myself above you to glory. For in me, be assured, you will not find a man who knows not to avail himself of the solid, saturnine ignorance of his enemies. And should law ever revive, sir, your situation with me will be found precarious, if I mistake not, to your fortune. Thus far have I considered you in the line of an individual, in which character I here close my correspondence with you forever. But, as chairman of the town committee,

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I must address myself to you more guardedly, and here, sir, I begin. Mr. Chairman, as I directly mean to give security to the committee, I desire that, in order to liberate me the sooner from my durance, you apply to the committee for a copy of the recognizance, into which I, with my surety, are to enter. Your speedy answer will oblige, sir.

Yours, etc.,
JO. FALLON.