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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Daniel Earl to Richard Hind
Earl, Daniel, d. 1790
August 30, 1775
Volume 10, Pages 237-238

[N. C. Letter Book. S. P. G.]
Letter from Rev. Mr. Earl to the Secretary.

No Carolina, near Edenton, 30th August, 1775.

Reverend and Dear Sir,

Your favor of the 18th March last by the Reverend Mr. Pettigrew have received, acquainting me of the Society's permission to remove to some more wholesome climate for the re-establishment of my health, for which I return them my very hearty thanks as well as to you, Sir, for your very kind and friendly application in my behalf.

I should have gone to some of the Northern Colonies before this time had it not been for the war-like and unquiet situation of this whole continent, where there are not, by the lowest calculation, less than 150,000 men under arms, which they are daily augmenting, and which would render traveling extremely disagreeable, especially to an unhealthy person, and therefore chose rather to rely on the Almighty Author of Life and Health for sanitary means than undertake a journey under these circumstances.

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The situation of the clergy in this part of the world is at present truly critical, on account of the difficulty of comporting themselves in such a manner as to give no umbrage to the Inhabitants. Some of them have been suspended, deprived of their Salaries, and, in the American manner proscribed by the Committees, and thereby rendered incapable of getting any settlement in any part of the united Colonies, and all this on account of charges against them of opposing the general cause of America, and how far they are to blame I am not able to determine, but verily believe that if the most learned and eloquent Divine in England was to endeavor to dissuade the Americans from their present Resolutions he could make no impression upon them, but contrarywise rather inflame them, so tenacious are they of the measures they have adopted.

The Reverend Mr Reed, the Society's very worthy Missionary at Newbern, has been treated in the manner I mentioned. The Continental Congress directed that the 20th of last Month should be observed throughout the Continent as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer, to deprecate the Calamities that threaten the British Empire in America, and Mr. Reed was waited upon some days before hand by a Deputation from the Committee to request him to officiate on that day, which he refused, alleging that he should thereby incur the displeasure of Government, upon which the committee desired that the Vestry should suspend him and that the church-wardens should not pay him his Salary, which, I hear, was immediately complied with.

As for my own part I have as yet kept clear of any censure among my parishioners, and I never introduce any Topic into the Pulpit except exhortations and prayers for peace, good order and a speedy reconciliation with Great Britain.

I have since my last to you Baptized in this parish thirty-six white and twelve black infants and two black adults, and likewise baptized several Infants that were brought to me from neighboring parishes.

I have drawn on the Society's Treasurer for half year's salary, which will be due on the 29th Septr next, which I was obliged to anticipate, as all communication between Great Britain and the Colonies will be at an End ten days from this time. I am,

Revd Sir Yours &ca,
DANL: EARL.