[A letter from Lord
Dunmore to Dr. John Trefusis]
Aboard the Dunmore
July 2nd, 1776
Sir You are a doctor and I wonder at what school you learnt impudence. I am not accustomed to receiving scoldings from men the most debased, liars & degenerate rogues. We shall in no wise exercise ourselves for the loss of a few Negroes, which action would be on all heads impracticable & fruitless. They are most likely now sold again or executed and an expedition would be the height of absurdness.
I regret that you lost your especial Negroes. If you would wish to purchase more, Mrs. Daunting aboard the Pleasure schooner wishes to sell five.
If however Dr. Trefusis wishes a topman’s view of the surrounding country to espy his dear black friends, I shall happily suspend him from the yardarm by his neck if he send another missive like his last to
Your Royal Governor,
John, Earl of Dunmore, Baron Murray of Blair,
&c., &c.