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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Alexander Spotswood to Thomas Pollock
Spotswood, Alexander, 1676-1740
April 1713
Volume 02, Pages 31-32

[From Calendar of Virginia State Papers. Vol. 1. P. 164.]1

—— March 1713

To Coll: Pollock—

Sr

Last night, I recd by Charleton yors of the 2nd instant wch gives occasion to rejoice with you upon ye good news ye success of yr Forces—I very readily agree with you that the pursuing this blow is the surest way to put an end to the war, but the difficulties in the execution thereof, wch you have justly stated are too great, to be surmounted by the Resolutions of two or three persons, how zealous soever they may be—Where other means are uncertain, it is prudent to make ye best use of such as are in ones' own power—You have already experienced how ruinous the continuance of this war hath proved to yr Country & there is little hopes of bettering yr: Condition, by the prosecution of it under the unhappy circumstances you now labour: Wherefore, I think if an honorable peace can be obtained while the terror of the late severe Connection is fresh in ye minds of yr Enemys, it would prove ye best Expedient to free you from yr: troubles, and in all probability to quiet the Tuscoruroes for a long time, at least while the memory of the losses they have sustained remains among them. To this purpose it may be proper to talk high to Blunt, as if you expected not only a Reinforcemt from So Carolina, but that Virginia also was moving to yr: assistance. This will be the more duely credited by him, because upon advice that a Body of the Northern Indians have lately crossed our Frontiers, and are gone towards Morattuck, in all probability to ye assistance of ye Tuscororoes,

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I have ordered all our Rangers wch compose a Body of near 150 men, to march that way, and tis very like, some of the Tuscororoes that have fled from yr Forces may fall into their hands—It may likewise be proper to let Blunt know that you are so well satisfied with his Conduct, and especially in delivering up to you, the two persons who committed the late murder, that you are willing to conclude a peace with him and all other Indians of the Tuscaroro and Masammaskete nation, that will put themselves under his Governmt, and that you will make him King of all those Indians under the protection of North Carolina. This proposal will stir up his ambition; and no doubt oblige him to be faithful to the English for the future; and it seems reasonable to believe that the Tuscaroroes will now very readily embrace such an opportunity of making their peace. And by this means, you may also engage Blunt to deliver to you the greater part of the murderers that are yet alive. You will in all appearance, be more secure by this means of any attempts of those Indians, or at least if they should again begin their old practices, you will be better able to provide agst them in time of Peace, after the Country hath had some Respite from their present Calamitys. As I have no other intention than to contribute to the Relief of yr: province, I shall very readily concur with you in thesse or any other measures that may be judged proper. And you may assure Blunt, that upon his concluding such a peace, he shall be owned by this Govt as the Chief of the Tuscarora Nations. This I offer only as my present thoughts, but next week I shall have a meeting of the council and then if any thing further can be thought of for yr: assistance I shal communicate it to you by Express.


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1 The date should be April, 1713. See date of preceding letter, to which it is an answer.—Ed.