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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Martin Howard to George Sackville Germain, Viscount Sackville
Howard, Martin, ca. 1730-1781
September 10, 1777
Volume 11, Pages 760-761

CHIEF JUSTICE MARTIN HOWARD TO LORD GEORGE GERMAIN.
[B. P. R. O. Am. & W. Ind: Vol: 222.]


New York September 10th 1777.

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

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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.

I have the honour to be with the most profound respect and veneration.
My Lord
your Lordships
most obedient and
most humble servant
M. HOWARD.
The Right Honble
Lord George Germain &c &c &c.

Recd: 26th Novber