I have seen in a Norfolk paper an advertisement for Labourers to complete Fort Nelson. I as a freind to my country address you these few lines by way of promoting the welfare of my country to inform your excellency that it would be much more expedient to draught the militia to complete the Forts., it will be learning the negroes the art of war, and in case of a war with any foreign power, the Negroes will be a great part, it would learning the Militia that art for which they would be so much wanting in case of a war, and as I beleive we shall have war, I hope this precaution will not be deemed presumtious & I take the liberty of Subscribing myself