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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Alexander Martin to Robert R. Livingston
Martin, Alexander, 1740-1807
August 20, 1782
Volume 16, Pages 399-400

FROM GOV. MARTIN TO HON. ROBT. R. LIVINGSTON.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

North Carolina, August 20th, 1782.

Sir:

Only a few days ago I was favoured with your Letter of May 2d, 1782, covering a Resolution of Congress of the 1st on a Report of a Committee to whom was referred a Communication of the Secretary of Foreign affairs.

However insiduous the designs of the Court of Britain may be in representing us a divided people to the several mediating European powers, the several great exertions making through the Continental Union to prosecute the War with vigor against her will shortly undeceive them and expose our Enemy to the just, contempt and ridicule he will draw upon himself, for such his false and illusive insinuations.

While the Enemy held the important post at Wilmington, the above suggestion might be too true respecting its environs and the disaffected settlements of this State, but since they have abandoned that post; our late revolted Citizens, conscious of their delusion, returned with cheerfulness to their allegiance and duty in support of the common cause, and I flatter myself we shall soon be a unitep people, and join our efforts with more efficacy with our sister States in terminating the War with honor to our Arms.

Sensible of the great attention paid the several States by the Honorable the Congress in this their Resolution, and the pertinent observations you have made thereon with a zeal becoming its importance in putting the Legislature on their guard against any separate overtures that may be made them by Britain without the intervention of Congress; with pleasure I shall do myself the honor to lay the same before them at their earliest meeting which will be on the first of November next at Hillsborough.

In the mean while, Sir, I can venture to pledge the Faith of the State that the General Assembly will listen to no negotiation, however flattering and apparently advantageous, but what is made through the great Council of the Continent.

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Yours of the 14th of May announcing the Birth of the Dauphin of France I have had the honor to receive, which joyful event that concerns the happiness of our great and illustrious Ally and future welfare of his Kingdoms, I have communicated to the good citizens of this State.

Enclosed have a Copy of the Acts of the last General Assembly agreeably to your request, which, by the delay of the printer, could not reach you sooner. I hope my Letter, accompanied with a Map of this State, shall safely come to hand.

I have the honor to be,
Yours, &c.,
ALEX. MARTIN.