Edenton 31st. July 1777

Dear Sir,

Your most obliging favours of 27th. by Egan I had the Honor to receive yesterday and am realy sorry nothing would be done about the Taminy as she is now fully loaded and I suffer greatly as the whole blame of her detention seems by the people to be laid to my door

It is with real concern I observe your Excellency will Once more be under the disagreeabl Necessity of turning out to restore order in your Government & you have my most earnest prayers for Success, nothing I can do Shall be wanting to help to bring about so Desirable an end. Should Colo. Dauge with his men call he shall have every necessary can be had for him, as well arms as provisions, and the two Field peices but from the best information we can obtain our Neighbours in Martin, upper end of Tyrrell and Bertie, are not like long to be quiet, we had them placed to guard the Magazzine with a Strong guard Constantly keep’t up, the readyness of ^the^ Country as well as the Militia of this Town to perform this Service I cannot omit mentioning with great pleasure & with no less Satisfaction I can inform your excellency, we have never yet had reason to doubt any person in ^the^ County, Perquimons, Pasquoank, or Currituck having any hand in the Conspiracy at least none are yet impeached or even Suspected—last Night Mr. Brimage was brought under gaurd to this Town from New inlet and was committed to goal—He with One Smith had got acquainted with a Certain Capt Campbell as he call’d him self, who said he was Lte Leut. of A Man of Warr were endeavouring to get on board one of the Ships at Virginia the two former were taken, the latter stole a Boat & made his escape, Smith is bound Over, I would no Send your Excellency a Copy of the depositions with proceedings ^thereon^ but have realy not time to have ^them^ copied—I saw some time ago I think about the middle of June last a letter to your Excellency from Mr Bondfield with his resignation as judge associate of the Court of Oyer—we shall have many unhappy devils to take their tryal for their life next Oyer Court and as I have not seen any new Commission I most confess I feel my Self deeply interested in this matter your Excellency will see, and I dare say veeiw the present Situation of this Country in as deplorable a light as I do—an exasperated Jury & a Lay Judge my God what may we not expect? Law should be Strictly attended to, Severity excercised, but the doors of mercy Should never be Shut—would a good Lawyer act at this time I am convinced it would be a great means of giving dignity to Courts, Strenth to the Law, and restoring Union to this distracted Country had the Assembly thought proper last time to have Appointed Mr. Johnston he assured me then he would have acted, on that Subject I have not of ^late^ conversed with him. I have the Honor to be

Your Excellencys Mos Obedt. &

Very Hbe. Servt

RobSmith

From Robert Smith Esqr.
31. July 1777 Edenton
King Taminy