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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Archibald Maclaine to George Hooper
Maclaine, Archibald, 1728-1790
April 03, 1783
Volume 16, Pages 954-955

HON. A. MACLAINE TO GEORGE HOOPER.

No. 3 (I believe) No. 1 & 2 being yet in the river, intended by Hogg, but go by Cochran & Eve.


Wilmington, 3rd April, 1783.

My Dear Sir:

I have been so much indisposed since my last, that I can scarcely recollect what I wrote to you. Evacuants and bark I have swallowed in abundance, & am not yet perfectly well; but this cool North Easter will help to establish my health.

I have not much to say, & Gaillard goes down so soon, that I have not time to say much. I have been prevented from setting off so as to reach Hillsborough before the Superior Court could be finished;

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& I have business of importance with the Judges. To the Assembly I shall be time enough. Next Tuesday should be the day of meeting.

A great variety of business, procrastinated by sickness, is fully sufficient for one man; but the trifling affairs of women, who apply to me upon every frivolous occasion, is intolerable. I must find some sequestered spot in which I can conceal myself from impertinent intrusion. My next neighbour Mrs. D. B. and her sister are more plague to me than all my connexions. From this you may guess what I have to undergo. How much I wish for a quiet retreat from the busy world, even you can scarcely conceive.

In my last I mentioned a chip hat, &c. If you can add for the same person a pattern of sprigged muslin or lawn for an apron you will oblige me. You can consult Mrs. Funno. I think Mrs. Slingsby says that 4 yds. of the black mode, and as much taffeta (which I believe you have not) would do; but she herself has contributed to drive every thing out of my head.

Instead of cassimere, I could wish to have hair camlet for a coat; or any thing of a dark color, that is light and strong.

We have had a report here that all thoughts of a peace is over, and that the British minister is returned home. I do not believe it, & I think it the lie of some speculator. It is said to come from Port L’Orient in a vessel which sailed 27th Dec. & from one other port the 6th or 7th of January, & is lately arrived in Virginia. It appears to me improbable in every point of view, & were it true, Congress would have had the earliest accounts & have roused the States to continue the war. It is not indeed unlike Lord Shelburne to recall a minister; for he endeavours to ape the late Chatham, without his virtue or abilities.

We have the measles here, but they have not yet visited my habitation.

Yours affectionately,
A. MACLAINE.

Mr. Patterson of Cross Creek will deliver you this. He is a very inoffensive man; but I believe you know him.

In the garden seeds you purchased for me, a bundle indorsed cabbage turned out to be cresses, a great disappointment which I hope be made up to me.