It was a very unlucky Circumstance which you mention in your Favor of the 20th June—& has taken place without any Order from me, or Concurrence of mine.

I am sorry however that the Assembly have taken such hasty Offence at the Measure, and have carried their Resentment so far as you inform—It could never be my Intention to call for, or Expectation to receive, other Men in the Room of those who have been rejected after being passed by our own Mustering officers—neither can any Blame of Dificiency fall upon the people or the Classes after having furnished men to the Acceptance of the Muster Masters from the Army—I am sorry that the latter in many Instances have been so little attentive to their Duty, which I am sure, is by this Time, made very plain & explicit to them.

To remedy as much as may be this unhappy Mistake, I think it may Still be well, if it can be done, to send on those rejected Men again to Camp, who are engaged for a sufft length of time: unless there may be some, who thro Imposition have been accepted—& are too notoriously insufficient—such I think, will be but a Burthen upon the Army—others altho they may be small, yet may be put to many Dutys where they will render Service, & give us good Men to the field.

The Size that is fixed, is very small, & it would seem almost impossible, that a person under that, could be by any Means competent to the Duties of a Soldier—the Instances, if any, must be very extraordinary—You will please therefore to direct the officers that in future they attend very strictly to the rules given them as it is better to save Expence to the Public by havg no Recruits, than by takg such as are unable to render the Service expected from them.

I am glad to hear that your State have passed the 5 ⅌ Cent Impost, & that they are makg the provision of Taxes for the supply of Mr Morris’s Requisition—It is of the utmost Importance, that they not only lay the Taxes, but that they should also be vigorous & punctual in their Collection; I fear the greatest failure lies in the latter part of the Duty.

Considering that your Line has been a long Time without any Genl Officer, & supposing that you have by this Time, probably done all in your power to forward the Recruitg Service—I must request that you will please to repair to the Army as soon as your Convenience will possibly admit. I am &c.