George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c
To our Trusty and well beloved Nathaniel Rice Esqr Greeting
Out of the assurance we have of the Loyalty Prudence and Ability of you the said Nathaniel Rice do hereby Constitute and Appoint you (During our Pleasure) Secretary of our province of North Carolina, hereby Authorizing you and Giving you full power and authority to be present at all meetings of our Governour and Council and of our Assemblys and to keep an Exact Register of all their acts Proceeding and
Orders, and also to Recieve from the Surveyor General all Certificates of Lands by him sett out and Surveyed, According to the warrants to him Directed, And to Draw up all Conveyances and Assurances of Lands to be granted pursuant to our Instructions Given to our Governor of our said province, thereon, and to cause the same when duly Executed to be Enrolled, And Generally to Do and Perform all Other acts usually done by other secretarys or that to the Duty of said Office shall belong, And we do hereby further Impower you to recieve all Fees Perquisites and advantages whatsoever to the said Office of Secretary belonging or anywise appertaining. In Testimony whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness our Trusty and well beloved George Burrington Esqr Governor of our Said province at Edenton under his hand and Great Seal of our said Province the Eleventh day of May In the fourth year of our reign Anno Domini 1731.
SEAL.
Entred from the Original by me Wm Irvin
Examined & Compared with the Original per me Jno Rice