Dear Sir:

Your favor of the 5th Instant by Capt. Hart, came safe to hand, at the same time a Petition in favor of Capt. Read. I consider Read as one of those against whom a prosecution was directed by the General Assembly and that I am not at Liberty to grant a pardon to any under the same circumstances. However I have appointed a Meeting of the Council at New Bern on Monday, the 12th Inst., when their advice shall be taken on his petition, his case is such as to induce me to grant him a pardon if in my power.

I wrote you some days past by a person Colo. Glasgow informed me (think Wm. Andrews) was going to Halifax and enclosed you a Commission as a Deputy and three Warrants for £64 each. I shall be glad to hear you have received the same.

I shall be very willing to go on the service you mention & be happy in travelling with you, but I am not yet satisfied it will be prudent for me to leave the State; when the Council meet & I have an opportunity of seeing the Speaker of the Senate and also knowing who will supply the place of Mr. W. Jones I shall be better able to inform you, this I flatter myself of doing by Mr. Richd Fenner who tells me he will be about to return from New Bern to Halifax about the last of next week.