My Lord,
It is with very great Reluctance that I venture to take up a moment of your Lordship's time upon a subject which must already in many instances have tryed your Lordship's Patience, I mean applications for relief from suffering American Loyalists. I flatter myself however that my claim to His Majesty's favour is so reasonably founded that I shall obtain your Lordship's benevolent Aid and Intercession to procure me a share of that Bounty which His Majesty has already so eminently displayed to many in my situation. My Story my Lord in a few words is this, I was His Majesty's Chief Justice and one of the Council of North Carolina when the present Rebellion broke out and I resided there till about six weeks ago when the usurped Powers of that country compelled me to leave it. I accordingly embarked with my Family leaving the chief of my property behind me which indeed was not very considerable as it is a long time since I have received any salary or perquisites of Office. I am now in this city extremely happy to find myself once more under the protection of the British Government but at the same time now a little dejected to find myself destitute of all means of subsistence, a misfortune I
have little hopes of repairing by any Exertions of my own in the active scenes of life as a slender constitution and the enervating climate of Carolina have entirely unfitted me for such. I am therefore My Lord advised to solicit His Majesty's Bounty and I most humbly ask your Lordship's assistance to procure it for me in such manner and measure as to His Majesty shall seem meet.I should not do justice to myself on this occasion was I to omit informing your Lordship that this is the second time I have been ruined by the Americans by my attachment to the British Government. In the year 1765 at Rhode Island I wrote in defence of the parliamentary Right relative to the then Stamp Act for which my House and furniture was destroyed and for which I have never received any compensation.
My worthy Friends Governor Martin now here and Governor Hutchinson now in England will I flatter myself lend me their countenance in this application to your Lordship.
Recd: 26th Novber