Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Tryon to William Petty, Marquis of Lansdowne
Tryon, William, 1729-1788
December 11, 1767
Volume 07, Pages 530-531

[From Tryon's Letter Book.]
Letter from Governor Tryon to Earl Shelburne.

Newbern 11th Dec. 1767

Mr Thomas McGwire produced to me last October his Majestys warrant appointing him Attorney General to this province, in obedience to which I issued his commission under the seal of the province for that office, when he qualified in council by taking the oaths required by law.

-------------------- page 531 --------------------

Mr John Abraham Collet waited on me the fourth of last month at Brunswick with a commission from his Majesty bearing date the—of May last appointing him Captain and Commander of Fort Johnston, in virtue of which I administered to him the oaths of allegiance and other oaths required by law, and ordered the Fort to be delivered up to him

Unless his Majesty is graciously pleased to fix some pay to his commission or put him on the establishment of Engineer for the southern district of North America, his real merit and military experience, will not be able to make their residence in this government, since his present emoluments arise only from a fee of ten shillings proclamation money for a product bill to every vessel coming into Cape Fear River, a sum scaree exceeding thirty pounds sterling per annum. Were he to be honored with the commission and appointment of Engineer he might be very beneficially employed in making an accurate survey of the maritime parts of these southern provinces or in constructing of fortresses at the entrance of the respective rivers.

I am my Lord &c.