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Dear Sir:—

I had the honour of your favour by Capt. Outlaw by whom I intended to have wrote to your Excellency from Wilmington, had he not left that town sooner than I was apprised of. When he delivered me your favour, I told him that I was very glad to be informed of the circumstances that seemed to operate in his favour: but that out of Court I had no judicial power, and in Court I had no authority to dispense with the Laws of the State, or the forms of trial: that if he had been guilty of any crimes or offences, his pardon and indemnity must ultimately come from your Excellency, or the Legislature: that from your recommendation I should be disposed to extend any lenity to him, that I could do consistent with my duty as a Judge, and with the concurrence of the Gentlemen jointly appointed with me to execute that office: But whether DeBruhl was a proper witness to be admitted against him, or whether the Resolve of the last session of the Assembly, respecting the enlistment of persons accused of crimes or offenses before a certain time, extended to his case, were matters I could not determine out of Court. Upon which he went off in a day or two after without saying any thing further to me, and without appearing in Court to save the forfeiture of his recognisance. His default was therefore recorded, and a bill of indictment was found against him on the testimony of DeBruhl, and process was accordingly awarded thereon in common form. I have now finished my circuit, if it may be called such: and have with the assistance of my several

colleagues, in office, and in the best manner I could, proceeded in and determined a great variety and multiplicity of criminal causes and matters, I hope to the tolerable satisfaction of the public. I hope to have the honour and the pleasure of waiting on you some time in the next session of Assembly. And am with sincere respect and esteem, Dear Sir,

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