It gives me great pleasure to find that measures are taking to put the Continental Staff Departments in this State on a proper footing as they really are so distressed that very little Service can be expected from any of them and the State is at this time too poor to give them the least assistance—I am much obliged to you for the cloathing you propose sending on, and think they will be a means of forwarding the recruiting service much.

The Executive agree to your proposal of exchanging the heavy brass Cannon in this State, for an equal number of pounds of field artillery. The french officer who gave General Knox an account of their number is certainly mistaken, we know of but seven, one of which is saved by the british into the caliber and one other is at the bottom of Pamonkey river in five or Six fathoms water. a more particular account of them than we have at present shall be taken and the whole delivered to your order whenever you shall please to send for them. The State is so destitute of money that it is not in our power to comply with Genl Knox’s request to send them to the head of Elk. Whenever they are removed the french Ships must convoy them, or they will probably fall into the hands of the enemy who infest our bay in great numbers—I gave the board of war notice about three months ago of Colo. Connelly’s breaking his parole and going to Philadelphia and requested of them to have him secured, since which I have heard nothing of him till to Day when I received a Letter from General Clark informing me that he was at Detroit preparing to invade this country. I hope you will demand him, or he really will be a mischevious enemy to us.I am Dr Sir, with the greatest respect and sincerity Your most obedt and most humble Servant