To George Washington from Richard Dobbs Spaight, 4 February 1795
From Richard Dobbs Spaight
North-Carolina Raleigh February 4th 1795.
Sir,
I do myself the honor to send you inclosed an authenticated copy of, “an Act to cede to the United States of America certain lands upon the conditions therein mentioned,” The original act having been mislaid, I had it not in my power to get a Copy until my arrival here.1 I have the honor to be with respect Sir your most obedient servant
Richd Dobbs Spaight.
Copy, DNA: RG 46, entry 47; LB, Nc-Ar: Governors’ Letterbooks. The copy and enclosures are certified by State Department clerk George Taylor, Jr., as “True copies.” GW transmitted them to Congress with his first message of 17 Feb.; they are, however, filed with his message of 29 Jan. 1796.
1. The act of 17 July 1794 ceded jurisdiction (except in regard to the serving of processes) over land to be used for fortifications on the Cape Fear River and Ocracoke Inlet and for a lighthouse on the headland of Cape Hatteras, provided that the forts and beacons “be erected within three years and be continued and kept up for ever thereafter for the public use.” Spaight also included his own certification, dated 3 Feb. 1795, that James Glasgow, who certified the act, “was at the time of doing the same and is now, Secretary of the State” (DNA: RG 46, entry 47).