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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Henry Eustace McCulloh to John Harvey
McCulloh, Henry Eustace, d. ca. 1810
July 24, 1769
Volume 08, Pages 58-61

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[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
Letter from Henry E McCulloh to Colonel John Harvey


London 24th July 1769.

My Dear Sir

I desired Mr Iredell in a letter I wrote him a few days ago, to present you with my warm & friendly respects, & to assure you, that I had been prevented writing purely on account of expecting daily to hear from you at the Assembly. It was near the middle of May before I received the Papers;—I will refer him to my letter to the Committee of Correspondence, inclosed, & a letter I wrote the Treasurer, for my public conduct.—The little right I had to expect that warmth of Friendship which I have met from you, is an additional Circumstance to the grateful sense I have of your partial kindness; I am very sensible that my Success in the Affair of the Agency, is principally the work of your hand,—I wish I may ever have it in my power to make you a more weighty return than words, them I will spare. I am proud & happy in your Friendship, & will endeavor to deserve it.

I don't mean a Compliment, but I really think, the general Idea of your Petition, is the best I have seen. I should have blushed forever for You, if you had not bore some Testimony in the good cause.—Surely you have been polite and compliant enough.

It may be proper to give you a little private history as to your Petition. I am convinced they would have been better pleased, had you let it alone. Many of my friends (acquaintances rather) in Carolina, have kindly hinted to me, that I would best judge whether I would lay the Ideas of the mad, (rebellious) Americans at the foot of the throne;—& have been kindly concerned for the consequences to me, should I attempt it.—I am much obliged to them;—I see nothing in your petition, but my soul approves,—My spirit, as well as my Circumstances are independant;—& tho' my Lord H—h had the politeness to say, that Petitioning in my Circumstances was foolish, (his own words,) I insisted I had no discretion to exercise;—no question to ask, but that it should be presented in the most proper and official manner;—had he refused, I would have bent the knee myself,—the way it has been done is the only one, and never deviated from, but in cases of refusal. I

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trust in God, I shall never want Courage to execute your Commands. I will refer again to my letter to the Committee & only add, I must wish to renew the sanction of an Act of Assembly to my appointment, & earnestly entreat the kindest Assistance of my friends to bring it about. With respect to the salary, if any is named, I wish it may be respectable,—both with relation to the former, as well as myself,—But at the same time, I pledge my Honor, that I do not, will not, desire a single penny in payment, till the province shall be fully able & inclined to do it.—I am really & truly ambitious of the honor of being your agent, independent of every meaner motive. While my Father lives, I certainly stay here,—I wish your Agency, warmly,—I hope I would deserve your confidence on these grounds I ask & entreat the kind assistance of my friends.

Lord Hillsborough is a violent opposer of your request to emit money;—many in the ministry I hope, & have reason to believe, are of a different opinion—as minister for America, he must have great weight; that is to me, notwithstanding,—a Circumstance of nothing.—It is ever my duty, to do my utmost, & I will,—& I do not despond;—one thing I only fear, he should object to my person & appointment.—It is the Cause of the people, if they cannot appoint a person to transact their Interests,—they are in a very peculiar and unhappy Condition indeed.—Shall I hint to you, that if the Council refuse their assent you have a capital right invaded,—which it is incumbent upon you to support;—I hope the occasion will not arise:—If it does,—it is of no small consequence.—It is not for me to enlarge upon this subject—nor is it necessary.

You will perceive by my letters to the treasurers, I have not been able to receive anything on accot of the province.—Considering the unhappy loaded Condition of your public funds, & the cursed spirit of Levelling, that prevails among you,—I thought it advisable not to give the smallest handle for declaimers;—I therefore have left alone purchasing the maces till I hear further.—Your Robe, which I conceived were immediatly wanted, I have purchased & sent to the care of J. M.—I flatter myself, it will please, for it is rich, & plain.—You will want a handsome Tye upon the occasion, but that, I recollect, George Gray of Edenton can furnish you with.—Ninety nine, out of a hundred, of the sons of Adam, bow the Knee to appearances:—so far, wise men approve, & make use of them.

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I am concerned, I cannot give you hopes of succeeding for your friends in Hardwood's affair;—the poor devil is invisible; they talk of a compromise of 5s. in the pound, I would gladly take it;—Be pleased to assure the Gentlemen, I will be attentive to every circumstance which can give their Claim a value,—and will take upon me to act with discretionary Powers on their behalf.

I am extremely obliged to you for your kind Intentions, respecting Jimmy Iredell.—I warmly recommend it to him, to approve himself to you.

I must rejoice that your complaints agst the Office, no longer continue.—Be assured, no Circumstance under my power or direction, shall ever give you a moments uneasiness.—I don't expect to be very long your Collector. I wish you may get one, who wishes us kindly to the Interests of the Port.

I have it from authority, to acquaint you, that the Acts complained of by America are to be repealed;—their proud stomachs here, must come down.—Our politics h ereare nothing, but a scene of confusion.—Men's minds seem greatly inflamed.—The ministry &c. seem most cordially detested;—it is however my opinion that they will keep their seats.

Col. Mercer of Virginia has been for sometime appointed your Lieutr Govr & I believe has thoughts of succeeding: when Mr Tryon leaves America.

I send you a bundle of papers, magazines, Registers &c. which I know to be very agreeable food to a person in your part of the World: the public prints are the best picture of the times.—& you may depend on my supplying you with them occasionally.

I write you a long confused letter, & am sensible I have many excuses to make for the manner;—but I truly write in the greatest hurry.—On Tuesday next, I set out for France, &c. to spend the Vacation, which now takes place as to all sort of business.

I will hope to be often favored with hearing from you.—I intreat I may.—If in my power to serve you here, in any shape,—pray Command me and make me happy. As I said before, I will not make use of words—I warmly think myself under great Obligations to you,—& am with the utmost regard & truth

Your assured and faithfull Friend & hble Servt
HENRY E. McCULLOH.

P. S. My Complts & thanks to the Gentlemen your way, who interested themselves for me.—One thing, let me add,—Surely

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Mess. H. & J.—who have refused to act, will not be continued of the Committee of Correspondence.