The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-12-05
Colonial ami Rsvolalioaary Documents
Chanel nam. Noyemhcr 2o. le55

Chapel Hill, November 20, 1885.
Am. had the honor to receive, on the
18Th Nav last, yoar letter Of The previous
day, communicating authenticated copies ~
the Resolutions of the General Assembly of
Is4s-'49 and is54-'55, authorizing the Gov
ernor to obtain from the proper Offices IN
London, documentary evidence IN relation
20 the Colonial and Revolutionary History Of
North Carolina, and from the library 81 Har.
ward College copy Of Governor Tryuns
Letter book. The latter resolutions provide
that the agent to be appointed by the CIV
ernor may, il he should deem Il necessary,
visit Lunlon in the prosecution OF his re-
searches, and that the necessary expenses
Of his mission shall. on his return, be PAID
from the Public Treasury.
I had previously, in personal interview
to which your Excellrncy kindly invited me.
consented to render any services IN my pow.
er to enable you to ehrct the wise am. patrl--
otto designs af the General Assembly.
was, at the time received your letter, on
my way TO Connecticut. and intended TO ex-
tend my jnurney to Cambridge. Tor the pur.
pose Of obtaining, with as little delay as
practicable. loan of Governor Tryon's Let
Textbook, so that il might be copied under my
direction at hoine, or, Il did not succeed
in this, to ask permission to have copy
made for me under the direction OF the libra
rian. On my arrival al Hartford, however,
l received information which induced me 10
decline the contemplated visit to Cambridge,
and enter into correspondence with President
Walker upon The subject. Nv letter recels.
ed early and favorable attention; and my
friend, Jared Sparks, Ii. d., The immrdi-
ale predecessor Of President Walker, vas
authorised Il intimate 10 me the conditions
on which copy might be obtained.
Mr. Spark informed me thar under the
regulations of the University, original man
escripts were never allowed to be withdrawn
from the library but that in this instance,
If authorized to do so, he would have cnPy
made Tor me under his immediate supervision.
BY an experienced copyist-a specimen OF
whose handwriting he enclosed to me that
the manuscript consisted Of 525 pages-the
pages averaging about 500 words caeh-and
that the charge for copying would be SIX
cents PER- copy sheet Of one hundred words
q The volume c0ntains-lst. Governor
I'ryun's letters apparently oficIall from De-
tDbeI, l76I, TO December, I'll; I'd. Inc
Minutes ol the t'ouncIl from April, l.6j, to
June, III. Ii was sold 10 the college by
Mr.. Stevens, OF London, Who found II there
il the hands Of BOOKSELLER. IL was then in
two separate solumes-une containing let
ters. tie other The Minutes Of the GounclI.
He had them bound together in onr. The
tso had all The appearance OF having been the
original record .books kept by Governor Try
on, While h. was in oiice."
letter from Mr.. Sparks. dated on the
4th lust, inf0rms me that the cOpyist has
flashed his work, aud that the volume was
then in tie hands of the binder. MIR. Nor.
riss account, which YOU will receive here.
with, smounis 10 one hundred aud eight dol.
lars, VIZ: 300 for copying, s5 tor paper.
sHd % for binding. hss- no Doubt that the
.ogyisi ..-s ts...Iaet as task wltl, inu'e than
Ordinary nestne,, aud accuracy, aud IS well
entitled IL the stipulated compensation. !
have requested the cashier u The BANK u
the state TO remit the arioant due to hun, and
will draw upon YOU Tor 80 much Of the APP
praprsiiOn as mas be necessary 10 meet nv
expenditures, when the book j. received
Mr.. Sparks, TO whnm am indebted for nu-
meruus acts &c kindness, will take the work
intn lis possession and retain II for me, until
can secure a safe opportunity for Is trans
mission.
Whilst have taken the necessary pains
to accomplish the purposes al the General
Assembly, in obtaining lnr the State this very
important addition TO the records 0l the Ex-
eeati,e Department and 10 the information
previously possessed ~ relatiun 10 q InDsi
Interesting psr.0d d our HISTORY, have MI
been unmindful VI the more srduous task
contemplated BY th.se Resolutions 1.-THE 'u-
~ VI enLra,oring TO ascertain. as nearly a
mag Le able. the nature and extent u tue
msieIizls which c.a be obtained. TO illustrate
our annals ihr0U.h bout tie taa ceai1r.s'
which have elapsed .incr the earnest settle
mrni VA. fnrIneL within our borders.
have lL4de naiaeroes inquiries Of intrlli.
gent gentlemen in this and other states q
the Cnien. who, supposed. would be able
20 supply Information % TO indicate source
from whence might reasonably hope TO OBJ
tain II; aud these inquiries, I'm happy g
state, have met With encouraging success
Ian taking the requisite pains 10 rcndei
myself familiar with the mate als Tor hisio'
ry AZ nv command, suss tn be able 10 d.,
time TO form = sati.iactnr, apinian. siIrihrr Z
will be indispensable 70 the Accomplishment
d the liberal parl,sses 81 the Legislature
that an agent shalt risIl the mother euuiit!
and .esrch the ample and sriI.srrangrd re
posi,ories there. pubIis and private. for e
Cords. books. and manuscripts. not % be Oh
tanned - this side u the Atlantic. - sOni
a. nv collections shali b. ~ lull and CON
plr,e a. can reasonably hnpe % make ti,rn
from domestic sources. aud shall have ha,
oppsrtanity 10 arrange aud examine thrm,
aill be prepared 70 communicate M view
upon all The subject. enbraced By the Resu
lBtians. ! am, with high consideration,
Your 0J't seIt't,
ID. L SWAIN.
NJ. r...n.... a.. H..