Sir:

Agreeable to the direction of Congress contained in the enclosed Resolution, (p. 408) I am to solicit your Excellency’s attention to the object of it and to pray that means may be used by the State over which you preside to furnish the returns they require, sending quadruplicate Copies of them under the Seal of the State to this Office. I am sorry to have reason to complain of the little attention that the recommendations of Congress and my Letter of the 12th Day of November, 1781, relative to a similar object, has met with from your State since the want of those returns will, without doubt, be severely felt by our Ministers whenever they shall commence their negotiations for a general Peace.