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100 THK HISTOKT OF 
you do not, by colour of this our commission, take upon you or determine 
any private man’s property, in or to the lands which shall by the said 
dividing line be included within the limits of Virginia, nor of any other mat- 
ter or thing that doth not relate immediately to the adjusting, settling, and 
final determination of the boundary aforesaid, conformable to the proposals 
hereinbefore mentioned, and not otherwise. In witness whereof we have 
caused these presents to be made. Witness our trusty and well beloved 
William Gooch, Esq, our lieutenant governor and commander in chief of our 
colony and dominion of Virginia, under the seal of our said colony, at 
Williamsburg, the 14th day of December, 1727, in the first year of our 
reign. William Gooch. 
The Governor of North Carolina's Commission in obedience to his Majesty’s 
Order. 
Sir Richard Everard, baronet, governor, captain general, admiral, and 
commander in chief of th6 said province : To Christopher Gale, Esq. chief 
justice, John Lovick, Esq., secretary, Edward Moseley, Esq., surveyor general 
and William Little, Esq., attorney general, greeting : Whereas many disputes 
and differences have formerly been between the inhabitants of this province’ 
and those of his majesty’s colony of Virginia, concerning the boundaries and 
limits between the said two governments, which having been duly considered 
by Charles Eden, Esq., late governor of this province, and Alexander Spots- 
wood, Esq., late governor of Virginia; they agreed to certain proposals for de- 
termining the said controversy, and humbly offered the same for his majesty’s 
royal approbation, and the consent of the true and absolute lords pro- 
prietors of Carolina. And his majesty having been pleased to signify his 
royal approbation of those proposals (consented unto by the true and abso- 
lute lords proprietors of Carolina) and given directions for adjusting and 
settling the boundaries as near as may be to the said proposals : 
I, therefore, reposing especial trust and confidence in you, the said Christo- 
pher Gale, John Lovick, Edward Moseley and William Little, to be commis- 
sioners, on the part of the true and absolute lords proprietors, and that you 
in conjunction with such commissioners as shall be nominated for Virginia, 
use your utmost endeavours, and take all necessary care in adjusting and 
settling the said boundaries, by drawing such a distinct line or lines of divi- 
sion between the said two provinces, as near as reasonable you can to the 
proposals made by the two former governors, and the instructions herewith 
given you. Given at the council chamber in Edenton, under my hand, and 
the seal of the colony, the 21st day of February, anno Domini 1727, and in 
the first year of the reign of ,our sovereign lord, king George the Second. 
Richard Everard. 
The Protest of the Carolina Commissioners^ against our proceeding on the 
Line without them. 
We the underwritten commissioners for the government of North Caro- 
lina, in conjunction with the commissioners on the part of Virginia, having 
run the line for the division of the two colonies from Coratuck inlet, to the 
south branch of Roanoke river ; being in the whole about one hundred and 
seventy miles, and near fifty miles withqut the inhabitants, being of opinion 
we had run the line as far as would be requisite for a long time, judged the 
