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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Alexander Spotswood to Thomas Cary
Spotswood, Alexander, 1676-1740
June 21, 1711
Volume 01, Page 759

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[B. P. R. O. B. T. Virginia. Vol. 13. O. 98.]
THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS NOT TO BE DELIVERED TO Mr CARY UNLESS HE REJECTED THE MEDIATION OFFERED IN THE PRECEEDING LETTER.

Virginia June 21st 1711

Sir,

I shall be sorry if Mr Clayton shall find you so little disposed to a reasonable and peaceable accommodation as to be necessitated to produce this letter to you, whereby I must plainly declare to you that I do not design to stand idle and see so near me her Majesty's subjects misled into unhappy distractions, her peace and anthority tumultuously trampled on, and the Tranquility of this Government endangered by your wild commotions. What are you out of your witts to dispute whether Mr Hyde be sent over to be your Governor? Surely you will not persist to give occasion to the spilling of more blood in so unjustifyable a contention! if your confidence in a superior force at this time encourages you to keep up those tumults, yet think that the evil day of account for such bad actions cannot be far off, and consider what severe penaltys are due to the author of a commotion which may fairly come under the denomination of a Rebellion. I'm informed your design is to seize Mr Hyde with all his Council, but be assured that I am so well satisfyed with the legal Authority he is vested with and have such an aweful Reverence for that family which he has the honour to be related to, that so long as I have any power at hand I shall not suffer him to ly imprisoned by a Plebeian Route; once more I offer you my mediation for peace. Think what miserys you involve your Country in, and what coals of fire you heap upon your head by refusing it. So bid you heartily farewell

Sir
your friendly fellow subject and most humble servant.