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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from the Board of Trade of Great Britain to Arthur Dobbs
Great Britain. Board of Trade
February 17, 1762
Volume 06, Pages 702-703

[From MSS. Records in Office of the Secretary of State.]

Whitehall Feby 17th 1762.

Sir

Since our Letter to You dated the 22d of December last, a Duplicate of which is inclosed We have had under Our Consideration the several Acts passed by You in April last.

It was a great concern to Us to observe, that the Lower House of Assembly of North Carolina, had availed themselves of the Necessity of raising Money for the Publick service, to tack the appointment of an Agent to the Law passed for that purpose.

The irregularity of this Practice and the many Evils and Inconveniences which must necesarily flow from it are too obvious to need

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any Animadversion upon them and it is Our Duty to desire that when the time of Mr. Jouvencel's Appointment shall expire, You will recommend it to both Houses of Assembly to pass a separate Law, for the Appointment of an Agent, and that You will not upon any pretence whatever consent to an appointment made in any other manner.

We have likewise observed with some concern, that there is amongst these Laws, one for making provision for amending the Navigation of New River in Onslow County by Lottery, which is a mode of raising Money that in Our Opinion ought never to be countenanced or admitted into practice in the British Colonies, where the nature of the Constitution will not admit of those regulations and Checks, necessary to prevent fraud and abuse in a matter so peculiarly liable to them. But as the purpose for which the Act was passed has been carried into Execution and it has had its full Effect and Operation it would be useless and might be inconvenient to propose its repeal and therefore it only remains for Us to desire that You will not give Your Assent to a Law of the like nature for the future.

We are Sir your most &c.
SANDYS
SOAME JENYNS
ED: ELIOT
Ed BACON
To Arthur Dobbs Esqr
Governor of North Carolina.