Sir:
I am extremely sorry to hear by Mr. Fletcher, who had it officially from Mr. Pendergast, to desire me to load no more public Waggons with private Stores, and this by your Excellencie's order. I now declare I never did load any of the public Waggons with any other Things than those ordered; nor have I ever, since I have been in Office here, had any Waggons addressed to me but one Brigade from Baron de Kalb.
I have now, and once before, by desire of Mr. Fletcher, loaded some Continental Waggons, which were all the Times any application was made to me by any Officer. Mr. Daniel Mallett once told me I might load three Waggons with Salt that then came from Hillsborough; I refused, as I had no kind of Instructions concerning them, and indeed did not at that Time know to whom I might have directed the loads.
I have never on my own Accot., nor on Account of any other Person, put any private Property in any Waggons for Hillsborough, except two small Trunks & as many Boxes. These contained almost the whole of my Wardrobe, Library, &c., things so necessary either for my appearance or entertainment, I was afraid of trusting here, & therefore sent them away.