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Sir:

Enclosed you have a Warrant directed to the Sheriff of Bladen to apprehend those who were late rioters at your late County Court. Should it be requisite you will give him every aid in your power to bring them to their trials. However unpopular the decisions of our Courts may be for the present, yet they must be supported or our boasted Liberty and government will be no more, and we shall sink into a worse Tyranny than that, which we have lately escaped.

I am sorry to send the names of Colonel Robeson and his Brother among the list; they have suffered too much for their Country I thought to be among those to overturn its present Government. The high respect that is due them for their former services induces me to recommend, that the Sheriff take them before any Justice of the Peace of Bladen, and bind them over to Wilmington Superior Court. I flatter myself you will be fully supported in aid of the Sheriff in this business by the good friends of Government in your

County. But if contrary to my expectations a general resistance will be made, which some suggest, General Lillington on your application will send you further assistance.

Your prudence however will inform you, not to make any unnecessary parade of force, when the same is not necessary, but hope you and the Sheriff will so conduct the matter with proper address that these persons may be brought to Justice, and the great injury Government hath received in her Court of Law be repaired.

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