Having an Opportunity of a Vessel's going from hence to New york, I cou'd not neglect the acquainting your Excellency that this Assembly is appointed to meet the 22d. of November to consider of proper Supplies for the next year for the funds to pay our Companies here ^which^ all expire by that time, and therefore I hope to have your Excellencies Instructions what to demand from this province ,whether to keep up the 200 Men for the Assistance of South Carolina if necessary, Col. Bouquet having desired we might not send them since the Arrival of the Highland Regiment as there was no Quarters to be had for them. But as we hope to have an equitable share of the £50,000 granted by Parliament from your Excellency, according to our Circumstances and Sums raised and expended, I hope it will enable us to pay such Troops when called for out of the Province, or if only necessary for our Defense then we may expend some of it to finish fort Johnston which is not yet finished to the Land Side⁠—Your Excellency will be pleased to honour me with your Commands before the Session.

I find by the unforeseen unfortunate failing of the Expedition that you have ^not^ had it in your power to provide for many you were inclined to provide for among the rest my friend Capt. McManus, what makes me sollicitious about him is because his Father served in Spain during all Queen Ann's Warrs, and he is so keen to be in the Service, and laid himself out to be a diligent Officer, and now he has gone through all his little patrimony in hopes of it, so that if you think he can't soon be provided for I must desire him to return here, where he may live at small Expence with me; and if your Excellency thinks your Engagements otherwise are such as he can't be soon provided for, as I hear his Royal Highness has loaded you with more Recommendations with these Regiments from Ireland; he has nothing for it but to try his fate in Europe, but fear the Time is over there while he was upon Duty in the Provincial Troops hire⁠—I shou'd be glad to know your Thoughts or have your Advice upon it, as I know the Numbers are depending upon you.

I heartily wish that the Ministry may be so settled as to cooperate with your Excellency in the Operations of next year, and not allow the French to outnumber us in our own Element as well as by Land