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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Order of the Privy Council of Great Britain concerning instructions to Josiah Martin as Governor of North Carolina
Great Britain. Privy Council
February 06, 1771
Volume 08, Pages 512-513

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[B. P. R. O. North Carolina B. T. Vol. 17.]

At the Court of St James's the 6th day of February 1771.
Present
The Kings most Excellent Majesty in Council.

Whereas there was this Day read at the Board a Representation from the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations dated the 30th of last month in the words following, vizt

In obedience to your Majesty's commands we have prepared and herewith humbly lay before your Majesty Draughts of general instructions as well as of those which relate to the observance of the Acts of Parliament for the Encouragement and Regulation of the Plantation Trade for Josiah Martin Esquire whom your Majesty has been pleased to appoint to be Captain General and Governor in Chief of your Majes y's Province of North Carolina in America in which Draughts we have made no material alterations from the Instructions given by your Majesty to William Tryon Esquire except in the following particulars.

We have inserted in the present Draught of General Instructions two Articles Number 14 and 19, restraining the Governor on certain conditions from assenting to any Acts by which the number of the Assembly shall be increased or any regulations made in respect thereto inconsistent with your Majesty's Rights or by which public or private Lotteries may be instituted, both which Articles are conformable to what your Majesty has already approved for the Governors of other Colonies. We have omitted all such Articles of the former Instructions the objects of which appear to have been carried into execution or which from a variation in the circumstances of the Province are become unnecessary and improper. We have inserted in the first Article the names of only ten Councillors exclusive of the Lieutenant Governor, but as soon as we are apprised of the names of persons proper to serve your Majesty in that station we shall not fail humbly to recommend them to your Majesty in order that the said Council may be compleated to its usual number.

His Majesty taking the same into consideration was pleased with the advice of his Privy Council to approve of the said Draughts of Instructions together with the alterations made therein and to order as it is hereby Ordered that the Right Honorable the Earl of Hillsborough one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State do cause

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the said Instructions (which are hereunto annexed) to be prepared for his Majesty's Royal Signature.