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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Michael Payne to Richard Caswell
Payne, Michael
May 16, 1777
Volume 11, Pages 473-474

MICH'L. PAYNE TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Edenton 16th May, 1777.

Sir,

Several merchants of this place are at this time fitting out armed vessels, and are desirous to have for them Letters of Marque. Should your Excellency think it consistent with propriety, and choose to intrust me with six, more or less, blank Commissions, with directions what security is necessary to be taken, you may depend it shall be done, and every order given concerning them shall pay the strictest attention to. Could this be done, it would

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be encouragement to trade, as the going to where your Excellency resides must ever be attended with a considerable expence and waste of time, not to mention the difficulty obtaining the securities needful where they may be entire strangers. I have to inform your Excellency that several vessels, belonging, as they say, to the State of Virginia, have passed this port in their way to South Quay without making a report to this office. As it may be attended with many bad consequences, should be very glad to have your orders on this head: whether it would be proper for me to take notice of them or not.

I have the honor to be
your Excellency's most obed. & very H. servt
MICH'L. PAYNE.
His Excellency Richard Caswell.