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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Thomas Burke to Richard Caswell
Burke, Thomas, ca. 1747-1783
July 05, 1777
Volume 11, Pages 511-513

DR. THOS. BURKE TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Book.]


Philadelphia, July 5th, 1777.

Dr. Sir:—

Your several favours of the 10th & 11th ulto. have eome to hand, and you may rely on my best attention to all your commands.

Mr. Penn is arrived, and has brought the papers necessary for obtaining the money, but the Treasury being very nearly exhausted of all former emissions I fear we must wait sometime before we can procure a sum from one lately voted, adequate to the demand. We have however obtained an order of the Treasury for three hundred thousand dollars to be delivered at Baltimore where the press and Signers are, and the Board of War are properly instructed to forward it without delay. I observe the Resolve of the Assembly directs the Delegates to send forward 250,000, dollars and the residue of the 500,000 not drawn for under this Resolve, or previous thereto.

These difficulties occur. Are the 250,000 to be considered as part of the 500,000, or are they to be an additional demand? Are the Delegates to send this money at the risque of the State, and not in the usual way under the direction of the Board of War? The latter I can not think to have been intended by the Assembly, and therefore I have ventured to advise its being sent at the risque of the Continent in the usual way. In this Mr. Penn concurs with me. The former question I can not decide upon, but until it

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is more clearly expressed must suppose it is intended as part of the 500,000 dollars.

We know not what sums have been drawn for by the Treasurers. Mr. Johnston did indeed always advise me of his draughts, but Mr. Ashe did not, and want of information on this head obliges me to retain two hundred thousand dollars to be applied in payment of all the bills drawn heretofore by the Treasurers. I perceive Mr. Penn has a bill from Mr. Ash in his own favour for sixty odd thousand dollars, on what account this is, I know not, or under what authority Mr. Ash has drawn it. But I shall take no notice of it as a public transaction until I see some Resolution of the Assembly which gave rise to it. Your bill in favor of Mr. Ellis has been paid, the others are not yet arrived. Nothing material has happened since I wrote you last, except the celebration of the fourth of July (the anniversary of the declaration of Independence). You will see it at large in the enclosed paper; but the one thing is remarkable; this day, and the 28th of June, memorable for the defence of Sullivan's Island, were both celebrated here, and at both a Hessian band of music which were taken at Princeton performed very delightfully, the pleasure being not a little heightened by the reflection that they were hired by the British Court for purposes very different from those to which they were applied. July 7th. This moment I received yours of 17th ulto. by post inclosing the Resolution of Assembly, and a letter to Captain Caswell. Our Troops are encamped within a mile of this city, and General Nash lodges in the same house with me. I have not seen Captain Caswell, nor did I know until I received yours, that he was in the army, I shall immediately send to him, and hope to have the pleasure of his company to-morrow to dinner,—be assured, Sir, it will give me the greatest pleasure to attend to him, & render him every service in my power. I shall, Sir, observe your commands relative to him with a friendly solicitude. The Resolution of the Assembly shall be laid before Congress, and you shall know the result. I thank you, Sir, for yr attention to my private inconveniences manifested in the permission you give me to return to my family. I shall avail myself thereof as soon as I can assure myself that it can be done without injury to the public business. I shall

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write you again by the next post, or opportunity, and meantime have the honor to be

with the greatest respect and esteem,
Your Excellency's most obedt. serv't.,
THOS. BURKE.

I take the liberty of inclosing you two letters, which I beg the favor of you to forward.

Governor Caswell.