North Carolina New Bern, 26th March 1778.
Sir:
Your favour of the 29th January and 7th February I received only three days ago. The Board of War may rely on my doing everything in power to forward the clothing from this State to the Continenal Army. Some small time past a considerable quantity of woolens, some Ozenburgs, stockings and other articles were sent from this State being purchased here particularly for troops belonging to this State to the Clothier General at Lancaster, to whom an Invoice of the goods was sent and I presume a copy to the Board of War, if that has not been done it shall so soon as I can receive information from the person employed to purchase.
I am concerned at your not receiving a letter wrote immediately after receiving instruction to purchase leather, shoes or skins.
Considerable quantities of each of these articles have been purchased and some sent forward to the Clothier General at Lancaster. In my former I had mentioned the prices I had directed to be given, viz: Tanned leather per lb 8s, Deer skins in the hair, 6s pr. lb., Indian dressed 12s and shoes 24s per pair, these prices I informed you were high but I was apprehensive they would rise, and desired to know if I might exceed them.I find since that I was right in my conjectures for altho' I have allowed persons 10 per cent for forwarding and collecting these articles, at the prices above mentioned, many refuse selling them and hold them much higher.
Pray let me have your directions herein. I expect to receive at the meeting of our General Assembly (first Monday in next month) accounts from all the purchasers by me employed, when they shall be transmitted to the Board without delay.
What recruits we had have lately been ordered to the Northward as Guards to the wagons that went on with clothing. Little of that business is done here now, but I have great expectations that proper attention will be given by the General Assembly to the recommendations and resolutions of Congress which I shall lay before that body on its first meeting. Such troops as shall hereafter march from this State shall receive the necessary direction with respect to the place appointed for inoculating for the Small Pox.