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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Henry Eustace McCulloh to John Harvey
McCulloh, Henry Eustace, d. ca. 1810
March 20, 1770
Volume 08, Pages 181-182

[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
Letter from Henry Eustace McCulloh to Colonel John Harvey.

London 20th March 1770.

Dear Sir,

I can't but think it long since I had the pleasure of hearing from you, now upwards of twelve months. I hope my letters to the Committee of Correspondence &c, by Fortune, arrived in time, and that your Gown pleased.

The public papers inform me of the proceedings of your late Assembly. I must stop to return you, as the person to whom I justly conceive myself the most obliged, my hearty acknowledgmts for my appointment as Agent by Act, and for the very honorable manner for me, in which it past your House. The friendships I meet at your hands carry with them (& most justly) the highest value, as they proceed from an Impulse, unbiased by any private Connections of Family or Business. I beg leave to assure you I shall think myself happy in any opportunity of proving the sense I entertain of your favors; of which I trust, I will never give you (wilfully) occasion to repent. In my opinion, the proceedings of your late Assembly, have vindicated the honor of the Province, and I pray God, future Assemblies may ever have Wisdom to see, Virtue to assert, & Courage to vindicate the just rights of themselves, and their Constituents. I am hourly looking for letters from the Committee of Correspondence, and only wait to write till I hear from them. I have exerted myself to the uttermost, & have pretty well overset the Gentn who were for reducing the bounty on Tar,—had it not been for opposition to the preposterous proposal gave,—I believe the bounty on Staves and Timber might have been carried;—this is an object which shall not be lost sight of. The duty on Tar is to remain,—it is impossible for me to say what conduct America will

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adopt. All applications for a Currency at present will be in vain: I shall write the Committee, what past on the subject between Lord Hillsborough & me. I think your Govr is making his bed uneasy. I fear I shall not be able to serve your friend in his pursuit agst Haselwood, his Circumstances are low & wretched.—Against I write next, which will be soon, I will inform myself finally. If there is anything here, in which I can serve you or yours, command me, & be assured of my exertions as for myself.

My next shall contain a bundle of politics,—at present, we have nothing but scenes & prospects of Confusion. I inclose the Remonstrance, & Answer, & Junius' letter. You see what lengths they go on each side, and in my opinion, the storm is only thickening.—Nothing more with respect to America will be done this Sessions than partially repealing the Act of the 7th. of G. 3d. The House is in a hurry to rise, and talk of being up in April. Public Convulsions are not at all improbable. If the Idea is adopted that the present is an illegal House of Commons, disobedience to its acts, and refusal of paymt of Taxes is the next step:—it is expected, that the succeedg remonstrances, will go a much greater length than that of London, and that is no trifle.

I hope you pass your time among those who love you, in Health, peace, & plenty. I know no man who deserves to be happier, or whom I more wish so—& shall esteem myself much favoured in hearing often from you.

I am very sincerely, Dear Sir,
Yo: obt: & affect. Friend & humble servant,
HENRY E. McCULLOH.