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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Josiah Martin to George Sackville Germain, Viscount Sackville
Martin, Josiah, 1737-1786
November 08, 1776
Volume 10, Pages 899-900

[B. P. R. O. Am. & W. Ind.: No. Carolina. Vol. 222.]
Letter from Governor Martin to Lord George Germain.

Long Island near New York, November 8th, 1776.

My Lord,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's dispatch No. 2, which I obtained only yesterday out of the Post Office at New York, with assurance that it had been delivered there not half an hour before, so that I am utterly at a loss to account to your Lordship for its delay. the arrival of the Ranger Sloop from South Carolina, of which we have received advice, will however have anticipated your Lordship's expectations of the information of His Majesty's servants in the Southern Colonies that miscarried in the Duke of Cumberland Packet.

My dispatches by her will have acquainted your Lordship of the defeat of my expectations from the efforts of the well affected in North Carolina, owing to the failure of the Troops to arrive at the time I was taught to expect them (when previous arrangements obliged me to call them forth), and to want of prudent concert among themselves. To this last cause indeed, and to very egregious military misconduct, my latest and best information inclines me to ascribe the discomfiture of the Loyalists, who, with better guidance, under every circumstance of disappointment, with regard to their own strength and the timely arrival of the British Troops (that would have rendered their success certain), I am clearly of opinion my Lord must have effected their purpose of joining me. My letters by the same conveyance, will also have informed your Lordship of the principles upon which the Troops were withdrawn from No Carolina. Since my last letter to your Lordship the refugees who had taken sanctuary on board the ships in Cape Fear river, are arrived here from No Carolina in a Transport under convoy of the King's ships which were recalled from that station.

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I have encouraged the People my Lord to join the Army here, and I believe such of them as have served as Provincial soldiers, and who are now to be paid off by me, will take that part, while those who are not able or willing to bear arms, will readily gain a subsistence here, I am hopeful, without being further chargeable to the Public.

By a Person who left North Carolina in the month of September last, I am informed the rebels in that Colony, were so infatuated with the idea of being an independent State, as declared by the Congress, that they have struck Paper money with so liberal an hand, for the support of the war, as to have emitted five hundred and fifty thousand pounds, which vast sum, was then nearly expended. The Leaders of their Politicks at that time were Cornelius Harnett, Willie Jones and Thomas Jones who are all very guilty characters. I have the honor to enclose to your Lordship a copy of a resolve of their Committee of Safety, calculated to compleat the distress of the well affected. My effects in that country it seems, were previously plundered, and under the sanction of this Act I suppose will be confiscated with the estates of all the obnoxious. To what an extreme of madness is this People arrived!

Of the operations here my Lord I forbear to say anything to your Lordship, as I know nothing of Plans, objects or events but from the commonest report, and am assured that your Lordship cannot want information from the best authority.

I have received with great satisfaction your Lordship's circular letter of the 3d of May, signifying Her Majesty's safe delivery of a Princess, and I sincerely enter into the joy of the rest of His Majesty's subjects on that event.

I have the honor, &c.,
JO. MARTIN.