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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Tryon to Wills Hill, Marquis of Downshire
Tryon, William, 1729-1788
November 30, 1769
Volume 08, Page 152

[From Tryon's Letter Book.]
Letter from Governor Tryon to Earl Hillsborough.

Brunswick 30th November 1769.

The Resolves of the House declaring to treat with severity all persons who shall oppose Sheriffs in the execution of their office and cautioning public officers from taking unlawful fees will have I hope the desired effects.

The method of keeping the public accounts of this colony has been a great grievance to the country. I have made it an object of my attention ever since my arrival here to establish a better mode, and as I had the satisfaction to find the General Assembly willing to receive the information I had obtained, through the good offices of Mr Nicholas, Treasurer of Virginia, I laid before both Houses a plan I had digested as nearly as possible conformable to that observed in Virginia, a copy of which is entered on the Journals of the upper House. This plan was well received by those who wished to have a settlement made of the public accounts, and a fair and honorable method preserved in future. I am sensible it will be productive of some advances towards better regulations, and a proper settlement, for though a few may not approve, the country is too impatient to know the state and condition of the public funds to permit them to remain in their present obscurity.

I am my Lord &ca