Brunswick 11th Dec 1768.
I was honored with your Lordships letter at Newbern the 6th instant by express, relative to the extension of a boundary line between the two Carolinas. The line your Lordship proposes and to which you desire my concurrence would if carried into execution be highly injurious to this colony, first by shutting out all its communication of commerce with the western indians, leaving only impassable mountains as was experienced when the western frontier line was run last year, as the barrier between the indians and North Carolina. Secondly, The whole of the western line run at the expence of two thousand pounds would fall in your government. Thirdly, By an Act of the last session of Assembly all that tract of land to the Westward of Catawba river and to the Southward of Rowan county is formed into a county by the name of Tryon county, an inferior court established and provision ordered for erecting a court house, gaol, &c, add to this commissions issued for the justices of the peace and militia officers, and lastly I must beg leave to inform your Lordship that the plan you transmitted with your letter is prodigiously erroneous with respect to the course of the south branch of Catawba river, its real direction is not more by Mr. Churton's map, and every other creditable information, than two or three points to the westward of north, and its branches run far into Rowan county, and is cut off from the Cherokee mountains
by the meanders of Catawba river and the head branches of Broad river; For these and other substantial reasons though my inclination prompts me to comply with your Lordship's request the duty I owe this province forbids my concurrence. Besides I cannot think myself at liberty to vary my solicitation carried home by Mr. Collet that the boundary between these two governments may be extended as I described to your Lordship from where it terminated in 1764 a due west course till it intersected at right angles the line extended between the western frontiers of this province and the Cherokee hunting grounds, and to which I was happy enough in understanding your Lordship that you believed there could be no objection to its continuance.I thank your Lordship of the appointing two justices so much wanted near the boundary house. The moderation of the Assembly of this province, enabled me to go through a good deal of business and to magnify twenty one Acts. They now stand prorogued to the first of June next.
Captain Collet sailed two days before my arrival here.