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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Thomas Ogden to Thomas Burke
Ogden, Thomas, d. 1787
July 29, 1781
Volume 15, Pages 581-582

THOMAS OGDEN TO GOVERNOR BURKE.


Newbern, 29th July, 1781.

Sir:

Altho' I have not the honour of a Personal Acquaintance with your Excellency, yet from the knowledge I have of your general Character I am Induced to address you on behalf of Capt. Hinson, who at Present labours under a Particular Hardship. He was Captured in the month of April by an American Privateer (having on board a load of Salt) and brought into Beaufort in this State—was libelled in the Court of Admiralty and acquitted by the Jury; from this Sentence the Agent for the privater Appeal'd to Congress, but conscious that the Appeal wou'd not be supported, the Appellants never prosecuted at Congress, nevertheless the Owner, Capt. Hinson, was under the necessity of sending on to Philadelphia in order to defend the decree of the Court of admiralty here in his favour.

The event has proved the Justice of the Bermudian cause, and by the Appeal never having been lodged, the decree of the Court of Admiralty for Port Beaufort stands confirmed.

But in the Issue of this Appeal, the Collector of this port Informs us that by a late Act of Assembly no Provisions can be Ship'd without essential license from your Excellency. Nevertheless he says that the Law gives an Indulgence where Salt, Arms & Ammunition has been Imported. I therefore request your Excellency that Captain Hinson may be permitted to carry out of this Port the Value of his Cargo in Provisions, as the same has been Imported here under the General Laws of Congress and the Particular Laws of this State. I hope your Excellency will consider that Capt. Hinson is now lying at great Expence (to say nothing of the loss by detention)

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and will readily render him relief by transmitting to me or to the Collector of Port Beaufort here, an order to Permitt him to take a load of Provision equal to the Value of his Salt, which has heretofore been always Permitted. I beg leave to Offer your Excellency a tender of my best Services in any thing that may be in my Power and am with Sentiments of Respect and Esteem,

Sir, Your Excellency's Most Obed. Hbl. Servt.,
THOMAS OGDEN.
Govr. Burke.

Capt. Hinson has shown this letter to Mr. Coor (the Naval Officer.) He says that your Excellency might perhaps restrict the Quantity of Pork & Corn to be Exported, say 40 or 50 Barrells of the former and about 150 Barrells of the Latter and that the Permit should specify the same.

Your Excellency will judge of this. I am with respect, &c.,

Yours,
T. O.