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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from John Burgwin to Richard Caswell
Burgwin, John, 1731-1803
November 29, 1778
Volume 13, Pages 306-307

T. BURGWIN TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Hermitage 29th Novr. 1778.

Sir:

As I am told there are many stories propagated and spread to prejudice me in the opinion of the good people in this State, I would wish to convince your Excellency that they are all as void

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of truth, as the Paragraph in Mr. Davis' paper of the 30th October, and I trust Sir, from your love of justice and real goodness of heart, manifested by all your actions both public and private, that your Excellency will not credit such reports, but do the justice to believe there is not a man in America who has a more sincere attachment to No. Carolina than myself. Soon after the arrival of your Excellency's Parole I applied to the magistrates of Wilmington to take the oath & be admitted a citizen, but it seems the Law has reserved that power in the General Assembly. The magistrates however granted me a certificate of my application, which I have desired the Bearer Mr. Graham to present to your Excellency.

It would in my opinion have been folly in the extreme to have returned to this Country, without first determining to become a Citizen, and I shall ever think myself happy in having had the good fortune of returning to this State, under the clemency of your Excellency's administration, an administration universally commended for its wisdom, justice and moderation. I am with the greatest esteem Sir,

Your Excellency's obl'gd & obedt. Servt,
T. BURGWIN.