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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Spruce Macay to Henry William Harrington
Macay, Spruce, ca. 1755-1808
November 15, 1784
Volume 17, Page 181

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SPRUCE MACAY, ESQR., TO GENERAL HARRINGTON.

New Bern, Novr. 15th, 1784.

Dear Sir:

I received your Favor by Mr. Dejarnett. I am really at a loss to give you any Satisfactien relative to the Land you mention, nor can I until I shall see my memorandum. I should have wrote to you by some of the Gentlemen of the Bar who attend your County Court, if sickness had not prevented me. My Health is not yet recovered, and the unhealthiness of this Place contributes very little to my Recovery.

I attempted to arrange the County Courts in such Manner that yours might have fallen into my Circuit, but found that it would not take effect.

You must have heard from Mr. Robinson before this shall have reached you, the Reception that he met with, Mr. Allen did not choose to wait his Fate. I am sorry proper Diligence was not made use of in collecting Testimony against some others. It is a Pity, and cruel that Mr. Robinson should travel back so far by himself. Mr. Childs has not yet appeared. Perhaps the Treatment Robinson met with may convince the Tories they are not held in so high Esteem, and that a People who are free contrary to the wish, and the most violent Efforts of that Class of men, will never permit them to have any Power in Legislation.

We have expelled one Mr. Clay of Caswell County upon a Charge of I am ashamed to tell you, Petty Larceny, only eight Shillings! The Testimony appeared rather too clear though the man hitherto supported a good Character, and eight Shillings is but a small Sum to barter a good Character for, though it may be attended with one Advantage, as it was paper Money, perhaps its Credit may raise.

I shall take the first Opportunity of writing to you after my Return to Salisbury. We have had no Foreign Intelligence worth your Notice, except from Mr. Spate, that our Cession will be of no Advantage to us. I am Dear Sir, with most sincere Regard and Friendship,

Your most obedient and humble Servant,
SPRUCE MACAY.
Genl. Harrington.