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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Hugh Williamson to Samuel Johnston
Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819
March 23, 1789
Volume 21, Pages 538-539

HUGH. WILLIAMSON TO GOV. JOHNSTON.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

New York, 23rd March, 1789.

Sir:

Inclosed is a Letter which you will be so good as to forward to Col. Thomas. I have informed him that as the Board of Commissioners have been sitting some time, and the Publick papers from our State and Virginia are come to hand I shall be glad to see him here, that by seeing what is done and comparing our Charges with those of other States we may determine whether anything remains to be done. Perhaps it may be necessary to make an application to the New Congress on the Subject of remaining Claims, but of this I can form no opinion before Col. Thomas shall arrive. Possibly we may find that

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other proofs & Vouchers should be collected in the State; in this case I shall attempt that labour in the Summer. As I have already been longer from home than I expected when I left Edenton, it cannot be doubted that I wish to devote a few days to private concerns. I would not borrow so much as a week from the service of the State, and I have never been charged with truanting.

Hitherto I consider myself in the service of the State as a Member of Congress and shall continue so to do until the New Government is in Operation, hence I claim the right of Franking Letters, but in the meanwhile I attend Diligently to the Board of Commissioners to see if possible whether a thorough acquaintance with the charges of other States cannot be of some use to us in the Statement of our own.

There is a Report in Town that the King of Spain is dead. One of his sons and that son’s wife certainly are dead of Small Pox, at least Mr. Gardoqui is in mourning on that account. If the King is dead we shall soon find other measures pursued respecting the Mississippi. On this Subject I have some information that I cannot venture to commit to paper without a Cypher. It is a subject that so deeply concerns our State or many of its Citizens that I never lose sight of it, and hope on some occasion to be able to shew that on this head I have done the State some Service.

I have the Honor, &c.,
HU. WILLIAMSON.