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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Tryon to Peter DeLancey
Tryon, William, 1729-1788
March 22, 1768
Volume 07, Pages 700-701

[From Tryon's Letter Book.]
Letter from Governor Tryon to Peter DeLancey Esq, Deputy Post
Master General for the Southern Department.

Brunswick 22nd March 1768.

By the favor of your letter of the 28th of October last I was sorry to learn the accident that deprived me of the pleasure of getting your first letter. As you informed me you have not yet received instructions to open and regularly to carry on the General Post

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through your district, I thought it would be fruitless and unnecessary to apply to the General Assembly last Session for a further aid for that purpose. The resolve of the Legislature for one hundred pounds sterling of which you are acquainted, yet remaining unemployed.

The disadvantages the commercial interest of this province labors under for want of a communication by a post both in its European and American trade daily increases. It is true indeed we have frequent opportunities (at the best however, precarious) of writing by vessels bound to Great Britain, but the misfortune is; the letters from home to this colony are sent most generally to some other of his Majesty's colonies where they too often remain months and years, before the proper owners get them; and this for want of the communication being opened clear through his Majesty's American colonies. The delays and interruptions I experience in my correspondence with the public boards would, exclusive of the motives of general utility, make me earnestly wish to see a post established through this government. To remedy these inconveniencies and prejudices I trust you will not cease to represent to your masters (as I do to mine) the real immediate necessity, of the establishing a general post through all his Majesty's American dominions.

The route I gave you through this province can not be better regulated without prejudice to those general principles so essentially required in conducting a general post, I mean conveniency and expedition.

I am Sir &ca