May it please your Excellency:
Sir:

Some time past I was called abroad to Transact some Business. Being at that time Clerk of Sullivan County, I nominated a deputy to Transact the Business in my Absence, who being approved by the Court here took place Accordingly. At my return lately it appeared that during my absence there had been a change respecting a Government Called Franklin, that the Justices of this County had let the Court fall, a Majority if not all having Joined the new made Government; when the Courts were erected under the Franklin Authority the person who was deputy for me was by them made Clerk of their Court in Sullivan, by which proceeding all the records of this County have fallen into the hands of the People of Franklin. Their Court here have been Requested in the name and by the Authority of North Carolina to Deliver these Records Belonging to the State, to the proper Clerk of the County, which Request they Absolutely refuse to Comply with. As an Officer under the State of North Carolina I thought it my duty to acquaint your Excellency of this Matter Expecting you will please to Give some Directions how I am to proceed in this affair.