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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Richard Caswell to William Blount
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789
June 21, 1786
Volume 18, Pages 657-658

GOV. CASWELL TO HON. WILLIAM BLOUNT.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Kingston, 21st June 1786.

Dear Sir:

I am honored with your letters of the 19th May & 1st June, (received the same day.) It gave me pleasure to know you were in Congress, but much concerned to hear the bare entering the Treaties with the Indians on the Journals of Congress is considered as a Ratification, for I had great hopes that when that Honorable Body was fully informed of our just claims, and the Treaties being by them compared with our Bill of rights and Constitution, they would have been induced to think the Commissioners had proceeded too far under their authority.

I am happy in knowing any thing we have done has contributed to give the least satisfaction to Congress or her servants in respect to a partial payment of our proportion of the Federal Debt, but conceive our particular loss on the Tobacco will be very great. I did not by Capt. Stevenson receive a line from the Board of Treasury, nor have I by any other hand had a line from them respecting the Tobacco. As I know they have rec'd my letter honored by you, I decline writing them again 'till I receive their advice. As to the shipments which I am much importuned by the Commissioners of purchases about, pray speak to some of the members of the Treasury Board about it.

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I have an additional pleasure in knowing your Colleagues are so agreeable to them, please to present my respects. Nothing official at present have I to communicate. Your prospects of a full Congress and the event likely to take place which is mentioned in your last in some measure, obviates the distresses of my mind on account of the information you have given me of the confused and distressed state of our national concerns.

I am not well, and rather hurried at this juncture that I cannot write you so fully as I could wish; but believe me at all times disposed to wish you Felicity and Happiness, and to contribute anything in my power thereto.

I am, Dear Sir, your mo. ob. Servt.
R. CASWELL.