Sir:

The keeping up the Troops, in your District at this season of the year, appears to me to have a tendency to injure the inhabitants, especially such of the Troops who are Farmers, and as I know of no essential service they can at present perform or be employed in for the public, you are required to disband the whole of them, unless you shall think any part absolutely necessary to be kept up, in which case you will be pleased to detain in service so many as shall appear to you really necessary, and inform me the number, and your reason for continuing them; you will also be pleased to direct such of the Troops, as you disband, to hold themselves in readiness to assemble whenever required.

The small pox being in New Bern has prevented the meeting of the Assembly, and, altho' I have requested the Members to meet at Johnston Court house on the 26th Inst., 'tis a doubt with me whether they will or not, and a few weeks at this season will make a very great difference to the Planters, is the inducement I have to this measure, which I would willingly have referred to the Assembly.