---

My Dear Sir,

I did myself the favor to write you a long letter a few days ago to which I refer.—I have just received the favor of your letter of the 16th of December last; and thank you for the added instances it contains of your friendship and kindness for me.—I am sensible I

owe the success of my late appointment, chiefly to you;—and I beg you to believe that the assurances I have repeated to you of the Sense I entertain of your behaviour towards me, come warm and sincere from my heart.

I thank you for the Journal of your political Proceedings:—the madness of the people must be great indeed, to trust such wretches as Harmon Husbands and Christopher Nation, as their Representatives;—but it is a comfort, that these violent mad fits seldom last long.

Your Governor (in my opinion) would have done wiser to have been less passionate;—and had he been so, I do not believe he would have been blamed here.—Lord Hillsborough has found out at last, that Dissolutions do no good.

What you say with respect to my salary, is, (as all the rest of your conduct to me, is extremely) genteel and obliging.—I protest, my chief view in applying for the Agency, was the Hope and Honor of serving the province. The present appointment fully satisfies me; and the only objections I can possibly have to it, are such as relate to the public honour of the province.—I never sought the appointment from pecuniary motives, for I can truly say that the greatest part of the present allowance is not sufficient to answer my necessary extraordinary expenses of cloaths and Carriages;—but I would not wish the point to be agitated, nor shall I ever add any claim but for fees actually paid.—I suppose my friends will put in a Claim for me, during such time as I asked under the Resolve of your House;—I would have it withdrawn rather than be the occasion of any dispute,—tho' I conceive myself equally intitled.—I beg you and my other friends to act in this matter, according to your own discretions and Opinions.

I wrote letters of thanks to Mr Knox & Mr Caswell, which you will please to convey to them.—I also write Mr Ashe, and forward it by way of Cape Fear.

I inclose you a letter of this date to the Committee of Correspondence, which you will please to communicate.—I shall be very happy to hear that you approve my conduct;—and to receive your opinion as to the manner I have adopted in my Correspondence as agent. I have not as yet received the dispatches from Mr Montford;—as soon as I do, I will do the needfull, and write the Committee of Correspondence, another letter to your care, to which I will refer at present—I am much concerned that my letter by Fortune,

did not arrive in time, tho' I cannot reasonably lay any blame on myself.

For the reasons you approve, I shall endeavour hard to get some of the vacant seats in the Council, filled by Gentlemen from the Northwrd.—I may be wrong, but I at present conceive, it would be a lessening of your Dignity and weight to take one of them.—Pray write me, unreservedly, on this subject.

I write in a great hurry, and will refer to a letter I propose to write you very soon, and to accompany with some political points, and Intelligence.—I suspect a secret Coalition between ministry, & some of the opposition, and consequently the downfall of Patriotism.

Pray favor me with frequent letters;—& be assured, whenever you write, you are conferring a favor on me.

P. S. In hopes this may meet you at yr next assy—I inclose also the letter from Mr Ashe. If Mr Montford is not there you will please to open the letter for him, whch is of a public nature.

---