Gentn. of His Majesty’s Council Mr Speaker and Gentn. of the Assembly.

Since the time of our meeting in November & April last, The Almighty Providence has been manifested in a most eminent manner in Defence of the Protestant reformed Reformed Religion & Cause of Liberty as well in Europe as in America by the surprizing Success of His Majestys & King of Prussia’s Arms beyond all human Expectation so that we have Reason to hope, by the Exertion of our Force & Dependance upon the Divine Favor, that we may drive the French, our Implacable Enemy's from this Continent, secure an Honourable Peace, & for the future enjoy Peace, Safety, & Increase the Commerce of the British Empire, & particularly of these Provinces, & preserve our Holy Religion, Liberties & Properties undisturbed for the future.

 Mr Speaker & Gentn. of the Assembly

I have no further Instructions or Commands from his Majesty, than to recommend to you, the securing this Province from Depradations on the Sea Coasts, during this War, & preserving the Friendship, of our Indian Allies, who have, or shall Act in our Favour: As I hope the War, will soon be removed from this Province & our small Supply, cant be of any use abroad, so shall only recommend to you, the keeping up sufficient Garrisons, to defend our Forts, on the Sea Coast, & if it be found necessary, & the Cataubas expect it a Protection of our Western Frontier, & to finish Their Fort & as the Campaign on the Ohio, has been longer than expected, That you woud Supply our Companies there until they shall be relanded in this Province.

As His Majesty has been graciously pleas’d to give us Artillery & Ordnance Stores for Fort Johnston, I must also recommend to you, to grant a Supply, sufficient to finish that Fort, & to take Care of & preserve those Stores.

I have been obliged to apply to General Forbes for Money to supply the Companies sent to the Ohio, which I hope to be able to repay out of the Money granted by Parliament, for the Use of the Southern Colonies; when that is paid whatever over further Sum, shall come to our further Share, shall be laid out, in the most useful manner for the Benefit of this Province—

Gentn. of His Majesty’s Council Mr Speaker & Gentn of the Assembly

There are several Laws, which want to be amended or Enacted; which I think it my Duty to recommend to you. The first and Principal is the State of Religion in this Province; That the Law for the Maintainance of the Clergy, & ascertaining their Stipend may be fixed, & Vestries be regulated. That future Vestries, shou’d not have it in the Power, to lessen the Supplies, granted to the Clergy, at their Caprice And that proper Select Vestries, shou'd be chosen & obliged to Qualify & Act. That Pious & learned Clergymen may be encouragd to reside in this Province; And I shou'd think it a proper measure that a reasonable Sum shou'd be levied upon all Taxables in this Province, & paid into the Public Treasury; & be issued out in Proportion to the Tax, for payment of the Clergy, & in Case They have not a Clergyman fixed, then to be laid out in purchasing Glebes & Erecting Glebe Houses to promote the Residence of the Clergy

I must also recommend to you the Erecting proper Schools in the Province for the Education of Youth in the Reformed Protestant Religion, & in Moral Religious Principles, otherwise in the next Age, we shall have a Succession of Infidels, Deists Enthusiasts, & Sectaries, to the disgrace of our Holy Religion, & Destruction of the Society.

I must also recommend to you the giving a Credit, to our Paper Currency which by the management of private Traders & others, is now at a great Discount.

You will also find it necessary to make proper Regulations to promote our Trade, & to prevent abuses in our Commodities exported, & to enforce the Laws for enlarging & Amending the Public Roads so necessary to promote an Inland Trade & Foreign Commerce.

As it is my Duty & Inclination to do every thing for the safety Increase, & Improvement of this Province, I shall Endeavor, as soon as the Exigency of Affairs, will allow it, to lessen the Taxes, & only raise such future Taxes, as shall Increase your Wealth, Industry, & Commerce, And promote true Religion, and Virtue in the rising Generation—