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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Thomas Gage to Josiah Martin
Gage, Thomas, 1721-1787
April 12, 1775
Volume 10, Pages 105-106

To his Excellency Josiah Martin Esqre Governor of North Carolina.

Boston April 12th 1775.

Sir,

Your letter of the 16th March I have had the pleasure to receive and am glad to hear many of the people in your province are beginning to find they are misled and that they seem inclined to disengage themselves from the arbitrary power of the Continental Congress and of their Committees. I wish I could say as much of the people of this Province who are more cool than they were, but their leaders by their arts and artifices still keep up that seditious and licentious spirit that has led them on all occasions to oppose Government and even to acts of rebellion. The late accounts from England have embarrassed their Counsels much. They have applied to the New England governments and doubtless will to those of the Southward to assist them, but I hope the madness of the latter is wearing off and that they will get no encouragement from thence. This Province has some time been and now is in the new fangled

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legislature termed a Provincial Congress who seem to have taken the Government into their hands. What they intend to do I cannot pretend to say but they are certainly much puzzled how to act. Fear in some and want of inclination in others will be a great bar to their coming to extremities though their leaders use every measure to bring them into the field.

I am sorry it is not in my power to supply you with the number of arms you request. I have them not to spare in the present conjuncture of the service here. I may assist you with some powder but can get no safe opportunity from this to send it to you. I shall order you a supply by way of New York, and whatsoever may be in my power to assist you to keep up the present good disposition of the loyal part of your Province I shall be happy to do and am sorry I cannot at present do more.

I have the honor to be &c
THOMAS GAGE.