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Jon, Thank you for the transcription. But I am struck by Dunmore's assertion that the " the Negroes are double the number of white people in this Colony." Most of my sources place the percentage of enslaved people around 40%. Does anyone have an idea where the governor might have arrived at this figure? David Kiracofe -----Original Message----- From: H-NET/OIEAHC Electronic Association in Early American Studies [mailto:H-OIEAHC@H-NET.MSU.EDU] On Behalf Of John Saillant Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 8:11 AM To: H-OIEAHC@H-NET.MSU.EDU Subject: Dunmore to Hillsborough May 1, 1772 [J Kukla] Here's a transcription of the letter and the enclosure from VCRP film. Governor Dunmore to Secretary of State, Earl of Hillsborough, May 1, 1772; CO 5/1350 fol. 46-7; VCRP reel 2 No. 9 Williamsburg 1st May 1772 My Lord The Acts of Assembly, Journals &c are not yet ready for Sending, but I transmit to your Lordship an Address of the house of Burgesses, in their last sitting, to his Majesty praying that the legislature of this Colony may not be restrained from passing a law which, as it appears to me, is evidently calculated for the good of this Country, and, with it, the interest of Great Britain. I hope your Lordship will present the said Address, and endeavour to dispose His Majesty to acquiesce in the desire of a Country whose loyalty and affection have been allway Conspicuous, and whose importance to the Mother Country gives them a title to expect to be considered before those leading people in England, whose particular interest it may be to oppose this request. The people of this Colony are very anxious for an Act to lay an additional duty upon the importation of Slaves, in order to restrain the introduction of people, the Number of whom, already in the Colony, gives them Just cause to apprehend the most dangerous Consequences therefrom, and therefore makes it necessary that they should fall upon means, not only of preventing their increase, but, also of lessening their numbers, and the interest of the Country would Manifestly require the total expulsion of them. At present the Negroes are double the number of white people in this Colony, which, by the natural increase, and the great addition of more imported ones every year, is Sufficient to alarm not only this Colony, but all the Colonies of America; but supposing that, by unremitted observance of their conduct, a rigorous exertion of the Laws relating to them, and the most exemplary punishment of all the refractory sorts (a lamentable necessity for a Country to be evident) they might so far Succeed as ever to prevent any insurrection from being Contrived among them, yet in case of a War, which may probably often happen with Spain, or indeed any other power, that might make an attack upon this Colony, the people, with great reason, tremble at the facility that an enemy would find in procuring Such as body of men, attached by no tyes to their Masters of to the Country, on the contrary it is natural to Suppose their Condition must inspire them with an aversion to both, and therefore are ready to join the first that would encourage them to revenge themselves, by which means a Conquest of this Country would inevitably be effected in a very Short time; it cannot therefore but be a Matter of the greatest concern, to find proper means of averting a Calamity so alarming. I am My Lord Your Lordship's Most Obedient Humble Servant Dunmore ====== Petition of the House of Burgesses CO 5/1350 fol. 48; VCRP reel 2 To the King's most excellent Majesty. The humble Address of the House of Burgesses of Virginia Most Gracious Sovereign, We your Majesty's dutiful and loyal Subjects the Burgesses of Virginia, now met in General Assembly, beg leave with all Humility to approach your Royal Presence. The many Instances of your Majesty's benevolent Intentions and most gracious Disposition to promote the Prospering and Happiness of your Subjects in the Colonies, encourage us to look up to the Throne, and implore your Majesty's paternal Assistance in averting a Calamity of a most alarming Nature. The Importation of Slaves into the Colonies from the Coast of Africa hath long been considered as a Trade of great Inhumanity, and, under its present Encouragement, we have too much reason to fear will endanger the very Existence of your Majesty's American Dominions. We are sensible that some of your Majesty's Subjects in Great Britain may reap Emoluments from this Sort of Traffic, but when we consider that it greatly retards the Settlement of the Colonies with more useful Inhabitants, and may, in Time, have the most destructive Influence, we presume to hope that the Interest of a few will be disregarded when placed in Competition with the Security and Happiness of such Numbers of your Majesty's dutiful and loyal Subjects. Deeply impressed with these Sentiments, we most humbly beseech your Majesty to remove all those Restraints on your Majesty's Governors of this Colony which inhibit their assenting to such Laws, as might shut so very pernicious a Commerce. Your Majesty's ancient Colony and Dominion of Virginia hath at all Times and upon every Occasion been entirely devoted to your Majesty's sacred Person and Government, and not cannot forego this Opportunity of renewing those Assurances of the finest Loyalty and warmest Assertion, which we have so often, with the greatest Sincerity, given to the best of Kings, whose Wisdom and Goodness we esteem the surest Pledges of the Happiness of all his People Peyton Randolph, Speaker --
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