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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letters from George Burrington to Edmund Porter, including Porter's comments thereon
Burrington, George, 1680-1759
May 03, 1725 - August 17, 1725
Volume 03, Pages 526-528

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Four Letters from Gov. Burrington to Mr Porter with Mr Porter's Remarks—Recd with Mr Porter's Letter of 15 Aug. 1733

Letters from Governor Burrington to Mr Porter.


May 3rd 1725.

Dear Sir

I have talked with the old Mr Crisp who will not part with his hors under a price of eight each nothing besides will fetch them the price of whip law is £7 10s in bills and Grindstone 2:5 In the same I design to begin my journey through Bertie next Wednesday I recommend diligence to you dureing my absence att my return will not fail to see whither you have industrious (or no) In mean time

I am Your most humble servant
GEO: BURRINGTON.

Sunday Noon.

Dear Sir

I have thought much concerning the discourse we have had together about the Levy am entirely of opinion it cannot lawfully be raised without the Assembly, for then there would be no occasion for Assemblys (as Gale says there is none) therefore I have told all people I have talked with, that no money can be lawfully demanded nor paid before so ordained by the Assembly every body is of the same opinion here I design for Bertie tomorrow where I shall preach the same Doctrine as I hope you will in your Neighbourhood att my return to this place shall acquaint you with the success of my journey, my humble respects to Madam Porter

I am Sir, your humble servant
The young Knight is clapt.
G: B.

August the 17th 1725.

Dear Sir,

I take the oportunity of Mrs Loyds visit to let you know that I set out this morning for my journey into the Lower precincts, I doubt not but the Gentry will be in motion if they have any meetings with the voters of Chowan your Prensence will quash and defeat their ill designes, the Knight and his honest company seem much disquieted and low in spirit they talk (especially Gale) that there is no occasion for an Assembly they will have none &c: but this I take for a fetch to make us

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slaken our diligence in promoting the choice of good men to serve their Country in the Ensueing Assembly which must be chosen and meet according to the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina as you well know, I am sure nothing shall be wanting on my part to rescue the administration out of the hands of these rogues therefore believe my journey will take me up a fortnight att my return you shall be sure to hear if there is anything worth notice the way I go. If you have any leisure in the mean while I hope will employ some of it in drawing up an address for the Proprietors for the Assembly men to sign. It is absolutely necessary to have it ready by the time if you think it necessary to send one

I am Sir Your most obedient friend and humble servant
GEO: BURRINGTON

Note.—Mr Burrington under his own handwriting on the other side says vizt: “I am sure nothing shall be wanting on my part to resque “the administration out of the hands of these rogues” It is to be observed this letter was wrote the first year of Sir Richard Everards Government when Mr John Lovick was his principle and only adviser and at that time the Secretary and one of the Council under the late Lord Proprietors therefore must be comprehended by Mr Burrington's letter to be one of the Rogues therein mentioned thō he has now thought fit to appoint him a Member of the King's Council for this Province.

E. P.

Remarks vizt:

The 4. inclosed Letters are of Governor Burrington's hand writing wrote about 7. years past thō he pretended to the Board of Trade that he knew little of me before his last coming over! this is so far from Truth, that it will appear by one of these Letters dated May 3d 1725 he was so very obliging (at my first comeing with my family to settle here) that he was cheapning and buying hors, whip saws and grindstones for my negroes to work with, at a time when he was actually Governor under the Lords Proprietors and therefore would have been rude in me to have put his Excellency on so mean an Office. It is a Maxim in Law that where the credibility of an Evidence or Accuser is disproved in one point, the Testimony is usually invalid in the whole. If their Lordships are pleased to judge of things by the same rule I am sure of being safe against all the Machinations, Calumny and Detraction of his Excellency.

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Coll: Moseley's. after dinner

Dear Sir

I am sorry you could not favour us with your good Company today, Shall not be able to wait on you till after the Court is broke up, we are now drinking your health all happiness attend you

I am sincerely yours
GEO: BURRINGTON