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Gentlemen:

I have been honored with your letters of the 17th December & 22nd February last, with their respective enclosures, which shall be laid before the Legislature at their first meeting.

I have the honor to enclose you an extract of an Act of the General Assembly of this State, passed the 29th of December last, by which you will observe that some Tobacco was directed to be purchased and shipped to such place as you shall advise as the most likely to procure Bills or Monies for the payment (or some part of) the proportionable part of this State of the debt due from the United States, subject to the orders of the Board of which you have the honor to be members.

Some Tobacco has accordingly been purchased, and it becomes my duty to inform you, about four hundred Hogsheads, will very

shortly be ready for shipping from the Town of Washington, in this State, and also near the same number of Hogsheads (the quantity of which I believe may be estimated at one thousand net) from Edenton, I must therefore request you will be pleased to advise me what port, and to whom to make the shipments; and order the net proceeds to be paid into such hands as may answer the designs of the Assembly.

This trouble I flatter myself you will excuse us for giving you, as it may be of some advantage to the United States in general, as well as this in particular.

P. S. I have not received any Report of the purchases made by the Commissioners at Fayetteville, but daily expect it. That Town is on the Cape Fear, and the Tobacco there will be shipped from Wilmington; I imagine near 600 Hogsheads.

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