I have the honour of your Excellency's Last Letter of the 8th of Jany. with one inclosed for Mr Stead, who sends you the final Acct. for the Steers, he tells me that generally the Hydes & tallow are allowed the Butcher for killing, but I refer myself to his own Letter. 

I hear from Capt. Paine that some of yr Provincial Troops have been reduced, & as we labour still under great difficulties to repair the Losses occasion'd by Death & Desertion, I have proposed to Capt Paine to employ his Interest to raise some Recruits in your Province for the Royal Americans. He is disposed to comply with my Request, if your Excellency wou'd consent to it. 

As I know of no other way of compleating these Comps., I beg as a great favour that your Excy. may be pleased to give him Leave to recruit for us, & to countenance him by the necessary Assistance. He shall lay before you the beating Orders, and Instructions I give him, and is to make no use of them, until he is furnished with your Excys Approbation. 

I have given to Lt. Hay a Bill of Exchange drawn in favour of Mr Spaight, for the Advances he was so good as to make to our Officers. 

We have some News from Europe which Capt Paine will communicate to You, the most surprizing is a Suspension of Arms between the King of Prussia & the French to the month of April.

I beg to be rememberd to Major Dobbs, and I am with great Respect