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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Tryon to Thomas McGuire
Tryon, William, 1729-1788
February 13, 1771
Volume 08, Page 690


Newbern 13th February 1771.

Thomas McGuire Esquire.

The Court of Oyer and Terminer being adjourned to Monday the 25th instant, when witnesses from Orange County are to attend and give evidence against some of the Insurgents, I take the opportunity by Mr Walker to acquaint you that your attendance at that time will be requisite; therefore hope nothing will prevent my then seeing you. Considering in the present critical juncture of Public Affairs that you might wish to have some Counsel of eminence to assist you in the laborious and essential task of framing the Indictments as well as carrying on the Prosecutions against the Insurgents, I have renewed my application to Mr Gordon which I mentioned to you. He tells me he is willing to give his aid if correspondent to your inclinations; should you therefore see with me the expediency and necessity of his being employed on this occasion, I shall with much satisfaction retain him as Counsel for the Crown: should you be of opinion that Mr Marmaduke Jones would be likewise necessary for the same purposes, you may assure him that his abilities and services shall be properly acknowledged, though I apprehend the great distance will discourage his attendance.