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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Legge, Earl of Dartmouth to Josiah Martin
Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of, 1731 - 1801
March 03, 1773
Volume 09, Pages 374-375

[B. P. R. O. Am. & W. Ind.: No. Carolina. No. 220.]
Letter from Earl Dartmouth to Governor Martin.

Whitehall March 3d 1773.

Sir,

I have received your Dispatches Nos 1 and 2 and have laid them before the King.

I entirely concurr with you in opinion that Lord Granville's inattention to this Possessions in North Carolina has been both disadvantageous to himself, and prejudicial to the Public, but I understand he has been at length induced to take up the consideration of his Interests there, and has adopted some plan for the Arrangement of his Affairs that promises to be effectual. It will therefore be your Care to avail yourself of that Circumstance, and by acquaintance and conversation with the Person whom his Lordship has appointed to be his Agent, to lead him into a Concurrence in such measures, as shall promote those commendable Objects you have in view for promoting the Peace & Prosperity of the Colony and for advancing His Majesty's Revenue by a proper Quit rent Law, which if it can be obtained on the conditions you suggest will be equally for the Interests of the Crown and of the Proprietary.

The Representations you make of the Conduct and Character of Mr Strudwick, incline me to hope that while the appointment of the County Clerks continues in his hands Government will derive every proper advantage from those Establishments but I think what you say of the Propriety of the Governor's having the Appointment of

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those Clerks may deserve attention upon some future occasion, and you may be assured I shall not fail to do full justice to your recommendation of Mr Wyley Jones and Mr Thomas McGwire whenever vacancies happen in the Council of No. Carolina.

The Spirit of Industry and Improvement, which you say has shewn itself in the Southern parts of the Province, will necessaryly give strength and stability to Government by opening new Channels of Commerce, and encouraging the production of those Articles of Culture which are equally of Advantage to the Colony and to the Mother Country, and I make no doubt that your Sentiments of the Principles and Conduct of your Predecessor will be fully justified by the good effects of the spirited and prudent measures he pursued throughout the whole of his Administration.

I am etc,
DARTMOUTH.