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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Blount to Horatio Gates
Blount, William, 1749-1800
September 05, 1780
Volume 14, Pages 591-592

MAJ. WM. BLOUNT TO MAJ. GEN. GATES.

New Bern, Septembre 5th, 1780.

Sir:

At this Place I can find none of the Articles you directed me to purchase for the Use of the Maryland Troops. The day after my

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arrival Here I was informed of the Arrival of a Brig of Col. Josiah Parker's, of Virginia, from St Croix at Beaufort, a Port forty-five Miles below this, with a quantity of Cloths and linnens, in Consequence of which I went down and found Col. Parker, who is on board. He informed me that he had brought in five hundred pounds Sterling worth of Cloth, fine blue and red ilnnens; that they were sent up to South Quay. Upon my Informing him that I was from you commissioned to purchase those Articles for the Use of your Army, he desired me to offer You his Compliments and to inform you that He would not dispose of them untill He should hear from you or Myself, and that he would take a less price from the Public than may be obtained from Individuals. I endeavoured to persuade him to fix a price, but he would not. The Colonel will expect Bills at a short Sight, should you determine to take the Goods, to be paid him at the Delivery of them. By the Return of the Bearer I hope to know your Determinations and shall with pleasure execute them. Some Time Past arrived here from Martinique the Marquis of Britany in a Schooner belonging to the Continent, on board of which came several Bales of Goods shiped by Parsons, Alston & Co., on account of the United States, addressed to the care of Thos. & Titus Ogden, of this place. The Marquis says these Bales contain superfine red and blue Cloth. Any order that you may be pleased to give respecting them I shall be ready to execute. By Col. Parker I am informed that there has lately been in England one of the most violent Mobs ever known, headed by Lord George Gordon; that pulled down the House of Lord North (certain); that the Troops were obliged to be called from Cock's Heath to quell them; that much lives were lost before it could be effected, and that Lord George was taken and confined in the Tower. This Account is confirmed by the Saint Kitts Papers which the Colonel brought with him, but he says he saw several Private letters that mentioned it more fully.

I have the Honour to be,
With great Respect,
Your Most obedient humble servant,
WM. BLOUNT.
Major General Horatio Gates,
Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Department.