As I have had no occasion hitherto to apply to you as Secretary at War from this Government, it has so long prevented me from congratulating you upon this Mark of His Majesty's favour, and upon your happy Union with Lady Dalkeith, to whom I wish all happiness in the married State, having had the honor to be acquainted with her; and also to acknowledge your former Friendship to me upon my Application to you.

The cause of my present Application to you, you will find in the Copies of my Report to General Amherst, and the paragraph of His Letter to me in Answer to it, upon my having laid Captain Dalrymple Commander of Fort Johnston upon the River of Cape Fear, under Arrest, which Notwithstanding my Orders he has since broken, and attempted to take the Command of the Fort and possession of the Stores in the provincial Fort & Garrison maintained by the Province, which I here inclose to you; and as I find he cant be tried here, as there are no regular Forces in this Province without great difficulty & Expence, I must by General Amherst's Advice, apply to you as Secretary at War, to lay before His Majesty the cause of my Arrest; and that I think it is for His Majesty's Service, and Safety of the Stores, that he shou'd be at least removed from the Command of the Fort, and sent elsewhere, as he has no Appointment as Governor of the Fort from His Majesty, nor from this Province, as they can repose no Trust in him.