North Carolina, New Bern, April 7th 1775.
[Extract]
I am bound in conscience and duty to add, My Lord, that Government is here as absolutely prostrate as impotent, and that nothing but the shadow of it is left. It is indeed alike the Case in every other Colony that I hear of except New York, where the virtue of the Assembly has as yet supported it. I must further say, too, my Lord, that it is my serious opinion which I communicate with the last degree of concern that unless effectual measures such as British Spirit may dictate are speedily taken there will not long remain a trace of Britain's dominion over these Colonies.
1. Saunders, comp., Records of North Carolina, IX, 1212-1214.