Wilmington Cape Fear Decembr. 12th: 1754

Sir

I sent your Excellency the 9th. Instant an Exact List of the Officers & Troopers under my Command. Likewise a Letter for your Excellency, which I hope came safe to hand, I was so hurried that I had not time to think of the Defects that occurd to me in the Malitia Law in Regard to the Troopers &ca., for which I am in hopes of your Excellencys Pardon. The Defects are as follows.

The Officers & Troopers Pay per diem not mentioned, Likewise The Fines on both Officers & Troopers shoud be greater than the foot in Proportion to their Pay. Secondly that no Person in Either Horse or foot, wither Officer or Private Man shoud go out of their own County to Muster in another under a Large Penalty. Thirdly there ought to be a Collonell & Lieut. Coll. appointed for the Troops. Likewise the Collonells to see the Troops under their Command muster at least one [illegible] & that both Troops & foot shoud muster at Least Quarterly. Fourthly, that any Person that once Musters in the [torn] shoud not quit it under the Penalty of Ten Pounds Proclamation Money, these are all the Defects Perceiveable to me. My Commission as Capt. Caleb Grainger, Lieut. John Merritt Cornt. and John Burgwin, Quarter Master was Dated 5th Octobr. 1754. I am

Your Excellency's most Obdt. Servant.

Willm. Mackenzie

pr favr. Capt. Woodrow
Q.D.C.