I am desired by the Supreme Executive Council, to transmit to your Excellency, the inclosed Memorial from the Officers of Colonel Proctors Artillery. They importunately press for an answer, but the Council have declined it, untill they could be favoured with your advice and opinion. The Officers have this day intimated that if not redressed they propose to resign we can not approve the intimation and we hope they are not serious in their intentions but it is probable it may retard their march for which they are now nearly prepared, Cloathing having been provided for all the Line and pecuniary demands on the state satisfied, with a liberality unequall’d by any other state in the Union.

We also take the opportunity to inform your Excellency that Colonel Blaine’s representations some time ago of orders having been given by this Board to stop provision going to the Army was founded in a mistake. Our steady and invariable orders to the superintendant of Purchases being to forward by every means in his power the supplies agreeable to requisition nor have these orders ever intermitted generally. The only instance was in the case of the purshasing Agent of this City who at the Time when the Treasury was exhausted by large advances to the Officers and Men for cloathing and other heavy demands and the Convention Troops returned to us as five thousand souls daily expected, was cautioned with respect to his Contracts least he should promise which our Treasury would not enable us to perform, but the other purchasers were not interrupted in any respect.

We have also been favoured thro’ Congress with Colonel Broadheads representation to your Excellency of the state of his Garrison at Fort Pitt; with respect to beef your Excellency must recollect that this was not among the articles required last year of this state, proper measures were however taken to procure it, and actually purchased in the adjoining Counties of Virginia for which salt was sent up from hence but some obstruction was raised to their passing out of the state which occasioned the disappointment of the Garrison. We have reason to think this has been exaggerated but as soon as it was known to us, we provided money and employed a person to go up and purchase Cattle wherever they could be found. As to flour and whiskey we can assure your Excellency from the best authority that there has been no want of these articles whenever the Mills could go that there is aplenty now and has been for some considerable time.

It is difficult for your Excellency to form a competent Judgment of the difficulties and embarrassments with which the procuring supplies is attended. The confidence of the People in paper money is so shaken, that the produce of the country is furnished to the Commissioners with much reluctance, and even of this money we have but a very incompetent sum, when compared with the amount, and value of the supplies. Credit may be said to be at an end, the innumerable certificates granted by the Quarter Master, and Commissarys department, and by the authority of the state having extinguished all confidence in them. Under all these difficulties and with a sincere desire to serve our Country we chearfully devote our whole time and best sources at a great sacrifice of private interest. When our well meant endeavours are successful, and give satisfaction, we are happy; when it is otherwise, none can regret it more than we do ourselves, and in such case we are under necessity to claim a portion of the same candour upon which publick characters in all departments both civil and military, have from the peculiar situation of America been obliged to depend. As your Excellency by the general orders quoted in the address made by the Legislature of New York to their Constituents seems in some degree apprized of some of our embarrassments, we are perswaded you will do us the Justice to believe us seriously and earnestly engaged under many difficulties, and some opposition to procure every supply in our power, and any insinuations to the Contrary by the commissaries or their deputies, are equally unjust and injurious. A remark which has been drawn from us by a hasty letter at Colonel Blaines, couched in terms which may prejudice, but can never serve the publick business, while conducted by persons possessing any proportion of that spirit which has distinguished the People of America in the present Controversy.

With assurances to your Excellency, of leaving nothing omitted within the reach of our abilities, to relieve the publick distresses, and of the most perfect Respect and Esteem. I have the honour to be Your Excellencys Most obedient and very humble servant