R't Hon:

My last Let'r I troubled Y'r L'ds. (with) was the 15th Ulto, to w'ch I beg (you) to be refer'd. The No. Car. Regmi't y't was raised for our Assistance on this Expedit'n to the No. of 400, deserted and disbanded themselves before they reached the Place of Act'n; they raised in that Colony 12,000 £ towards their Pay and Maintenance. The Presid't fixed the Pay of the private Men at 3s Proclamation Mo(ney) per Day, a monstrous Error, and more so, as I wrote him the Establishm't of the Pay of our Forces was 8d per Day. The Soldiers were so elated with their high pay, that they made slow Marches, and before (reaching) the other Forces, the 12,000 £ was near all expended, and they w'd not serve unless they had security for the above Pay, w'ch c'd not be done, as all the other Soldiers were at 8d per Day. This unexpected Desert'n of so many Men has entirely put an End to the Operat's I had intended this Fall.