I received yesterday the favour of yours of the 28th. August, and am extremely obliged to your Excellency for your Care of our Recruiting officers. I have order'd Lieut. Hay to Newbern, and as I see that his Party is sickly and the Expences very great for want of proper Regulations on this Continent to fix the Rate of Provisions, I do not intend they shall go any further, but to stay at Newbern or thereabouts till the beginning of November next⁠—

I had the honour to write to your Excellency the 10th Jany. by Lieut. Billing, to inform you that in Consequence of the Arrival of the Highland Battalion here, your Provincial Troops might remain in your Province, and I am glad to prevent their embarking. I refer myself to that Letter in that Respect⁠—

The News of the £50,000. Granted for the Benefit of Virginia & the two Carolinas is very agreeable to me; Such a Gratification was highly necessary to enable the said Provinces, to support the extraordinary Expences, the Service requires from them⁠—

As it is necessary that I may be exactly acquainted with the military State of the Southern Provinces. I took the Liberty to ask from yr. Excellency in my letter of the 6th. August, to let me know the Amount of your Militia and Provincial Troops, with the Condition of your Forts, and the Quantity of Artillery Arms and Amunition. Which I beg your Excellency will let me have