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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Richard Caswell to John Haywood
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789
March 14, 1786
Volume 18, Pages 576-577

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GOV. CASWELL TO JOHN HAYWOOD, ESQR.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Kingston, March 14th, 1786.

Dear Sir:

Your favor of the 10th Current, I had the pleasure of receiving last evening. I am glad to hear you have purchased a considerable quantity of Tobacco for the public, and wish I was sufficiently informed of the duties enjoined me by the Law, under which you act, but unfortunately I am only furnished with the first part of the Act. The Printer has omitted to send me the third sheet beginning with the ninth page, in which is contained I presume the duties required of me, so that at this time, I cannot give any particular directions, but I will procure the Law as soon as practicable, and forward you by Express the necessary instructions. In the mean time pray exercise your own discretion in respect to sending down the Tobacco to Washington. I think the trifling expense of a few days or weeks' warehouse rent there should be no impediment to transporting it, within the proper seasons of the waters being up. It will be very pleasing to me, if the Tobacco is shipped to Philadelphia, or New York, if you can make it convenient to go with or meet it there, so as to have the disposition of it, tho' I do not think it will be prudent to send the whole of your purchase in one bottom, or for the whole to go to the same market at one time.

Mr. Combs' application I came into on these principles. He informs me he had consulted the Commissioners for purchasing public Tobacco, respecting the consignments, that so far as was within their power, he found his proposals agreeable to them, but he was informed the Governor was to direct in the business. He produced sufficient Documents to shew me the respective Houses with which he is connected, in New York and Philadelphia, were as likely as any other to do the State justice and assured me the business should be done on the usual Terms of Commissions. And as I did not expect the Assembly could have expected this business to be transacted by any Merchants upon any other Terms, I did not hesitate to inform Mr. Combs that if it lay with me to direct the shipments or Consignments of the Tobacco, if any was shipped for those parts, it should be addressed to the Houses with which he was connected.

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But, if you go forward, I certainly shall have a sufficient excuse for altering my intention in that particular for very obvious reasons.

My most respectful compliments attend you and your brother.

My son Winston also, request you will accept his.

I beg that you both will believe that I am with sentiments of sincere friendship and esteem Dear Sir,

Your mo. ob. Servt.,
R. CASWELL.