Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Aylett to Richard Caswell
Aylett, William
February 07, 1778
Volume 13, Pages 32-33

COL. WILLIAM AYLETT TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]


Williamsburg, Febry. 7th 1778.

Honle. Sir:

Your very obliging and much esteemed favor by Davenport, I met with this day on my return from a tour in the Country.

I am really at a loss for words to express my gratitude to your Excellency for the great honor you have done me in condescending to transact yourself the business that I meant only to trouble your Excellency to appoint a proper person to perform, also for your very polite tender of future services—but you have ordered me not to apoligise and I will obey you, but give me a leave to follow the dictates of my heart in imploring Heaven to reward your Zeal for your Country with success, and to confer on you every earthly enjoyment below and happiness above. I am sorry to inform your

-------------------- page 33 --------------------
Excellency that my present stock of cash is so nearly exhausted that I have not a sum worth sending at present, being reduced to two or three thousand pounds, but I have assurances of a speedy supply, when you may depend I will immediately send on a considerable sum, and more as it comes to hand. The purchase can not be too extensive, or I fear equal, to what is expected, for I am sorry to find the present dependence of the army is in your State and ours, but strange it is that this dire intelligence has been but lately communicated unaccompanied with the necessary sum for performing. A chain of wagons is to be kept up betwixt the River, as per plan enclosed for the speedy transporation, and what can be done, is also to go on by water. I hope it will be convenient to your State, to advance a necessary sum to keep the purchase in motion until a proper supply of money is forwarded and that what can be got be sent on with all possible expedition to South Quay. I hope the Gentleman your Excellency had in view is by this time engaged, and has taken this troublesome business off your Excellency's hands, and that he will favor me with a line by first opportunity. I am with the most perfect esteem and highest regard your Excellency's most Ob. & obliged Humble servant.

WILLIAM AYLETT.

I have engaged as much salt as is necessary. Your Excellency will therefore be pleased to order that no more be purchased in Carolina, than is necessary for curing what provisions can be procured of Pork or Beef. My orders are not to let a trifle in price prevent the fullest supply that can be obtained. I understand that Col. Salter has 2000 barrels of Pork for sale, which I hope with all that can be bought will be instantly engaged.