Dobbs,1 30 June 1778
Sir
Your favor of the 26 Instn.2 I have before me am sorry the Tender was not delivered you in better fix Capt Easton informed me that at Time he purchased her she was much out of repair but that he Intended to have her properly overhalled & fixed
Your Pilots I fear are not Governed by the best principles in their Combinations, they have other views than Honest Men ought to have, but nothing can be done respecting them 'till the meeting of the Assembly
I have written to Mr. Ellis, from whom I received a Letter on the Subject of the Agency of your Ship.3 I immagine He will Accept it & Supply you whenever the paymaster can be Supplyed with Money He shall be ordered to Attend and pay off your Crew4
I sent you Commissions for all the officers you required from NewBern, And without information whether the persons who were named in them refused to Accept them or have Conducted themselves unwo[r]thyly I cannot think of Superseding their appointments
I at present consider Dr. Cooley as a Surgeon in the Service of the United States, if he is so, of course he cannot be appointed to your Ship, However I shall lay your request regarding him before the Council who meet two days hence, and inform you their Resolutions thereon.5 I am Sir, [&c.]
Rd Caswell
Copy, Nc-Ar, Governor's Papers, State Series 111, Richard Caswell, 3, April 20–October 17, G.P. 3, p. 112. Addressed below signature: "Capt. Wilson." Docketed: "Copy Lr-to Capt. Willis/Wilson Comr. Ship/ Caswell Occacock/30. June 1778—."
1. By “Dobbs," Caswell meant Dobbs County, which existed in 1778. In 1779, Wayne County was formed out of the greater part of Dobbs County; the remaining portions of the county were annexed to other counties. In 1791, Glasgow and Lenoir counties were created out of lands formerly included in Dobbs County.
2. See Wilson to Caswell, 26 June, above.
3. See Caswell to Richard Ellis, 30 June, above.
4. On 3 Dec. 1778, Caswell informed Wilson that Capt. John Easton had received "seven months pay for the crew of the ship Caswell.” NCSR 13: 311.
5. Wilson had not yet received the Council's determination on the status of Dr. Samuel Cooley when he wrote Caswell on 28 July, below.
