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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Benjamin Harrison to Joseph Hewes
Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791
March 03, 1778
Volume 13, Pages 61-62

HON. BENJ. HARRISON TO JOSEPH HEWES.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Berkely James River March 3rd 1778.

Dear Sir:

I am greatly obliged to you for your two favors from Edenton. I had a long letter prepared, when your last came to hand, but did not send it forward as I hoped to have the pleasure of delivering its contents in person at Berkely, where I flattered myself, I should have the pleasure of seeing you on your way to Congress. In it you had a full account of the proceedings of our Assembly, which no doubt have reached you before this. It is therefore unnecessary to say anything on that subject, now, except that I fancy from your account of the Assembly of N. Carolina, that all America is at present governed by such wise acres as you represent some of them to be. Our last Assembly is but a poor epitome of what you have seen it, but judge what the next will be, when I tell you that eight or nine of its best and wisest are taken out of it, to fill up the Council and other departments of Government. I really am deeply affected at the prospect before us, and see no way to extricate ourselves from the impending ruin, unless Heaven in its goodness would work a miracle, by making fools tractable. This can no otherwise be done, for obstinacy you well know is most commonly an attendant upon ignorance. I have been greatly alarmed by some letters I have received from my worthy friend, and accounts through other channels, that there was a party formed against our general, both in and out of Congress in favor of the Saratoga Hero. I give the greater credit to this, when I consider who they are that compose our Board of War, men who are most of them avowedly his enemies, and some of them too who are using every endeavor to rise by his fall. In the name of wonders how came it thus constituted? Are the good

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and virtuous of you, and I know there is a great majority of such, taken in? Indeed I fear it and venture to foretell, that if you have not your eyes and ears about you, America or at least, this part of it will soon be in very great confusion.

I need not tell you that a constant correspondence will be most agreeable to me. I hope you know it, but I acknowledge that at the present I have a little self interest in the request, being very anxious to know from good authority, what is doing with you and in the Army.

Dear Sir,
Your affect. and obed't serv't.
BENJ. HARRISON.