Honorable Gentlemen:

The raging of the small pox in the Town of New Bern having prevented your assembling there on the time appointed by Law for the annual meeting of the General Assembly, and being myself of the opinion that our public affairs required as speedy a meeting of the Legislature as might be practicable, but not having power to call the same to any other place than that to which the same stood adjourned, I was induced to request your attendance at this place to consider the State of your Continental Battalions, the making provisions for the arrears of pay to the Militia who have been in service, the pay and subsistence of those now in service, the sending a further aid to the asistance of the Southern States, and the providing your Militia with arms and accoutrements. Among the papers herewith to be laid before you will be found Letters from the General officers and Genl. Rutledge, which will afford you information, and on ordering the public accounts to be laid before you you will find the exhausted state of the Treasury.