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Dear Sir:—

The New England members, aided by those of New York, part of New Jersey, part of Pennsylvania and South Carolina, are perseveringly determined to adopt the State debts if possible. Hitherto they have been unsuccessful in their general attempts. I have been obliged, in order to shew our willingness to

do justice, to move that a committee prepare a bill for making speedy settlement of the public accounts. I am on the committee, and shall not fail to endeavor to have such measures adopted as may put our State on a very respectable footing. I fear Colonel Thomas and myself will be obliged to apply to the next Assembly to give us leave to employ two clerks. They may be obtained at $450 per annum or $500. I am now convinced that my duty as Agent requiring that I should fully understand the public accounts, is an object of more importance to the State than I had formerly imagined. The general peace of society seems to require that great dispatch should be made in settling the national accounts. Five Continental Commissioners will be employed. They will probably be effectually restricted by five. The business must be done, whatever number of clerks may be required on their part. We must keep pace with them and be able to correct them if they err. If such measures should be adopted as may render it advisable for us to employ a clerk before the sitting of our Assembly, I submit to your consideration whether we might not venture on the measure. My hope is that North Carolina will be a creditor State to the amount of $2,000. The object is too great to be slighted.

Enclosed you have the outline of my first argument against the assumption. I hope the principles I have adopted will receive your approbation.

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