New Bern 2d December ^September^ 1777.

Dear Sir

I had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 11th August last night, I congratulate you on your recovery of the Small Pox, your having it so favourably was in a great measure owing to the regular regimen you observed, I am told, on your Journey I imagine, I was realy very anxtious about the Money you mention but was happily relieved from that Anxiety about three weeks ago when Mr. Allen delivered it safe to me in Dobbs I immediately dispatched expresses to the Treasurers, who came up & received it the Warrants I had Granted the recruiting Officers are taken up and the Troops paid off to the first instant, and those at Halifax ordered to March the same day I mean yesterday, The Artillery Company is Ordered to Kingston to Join Col: Sheppards Battalion which is Assembling with the Utmost expedition about 400 Rank and File who will March with the Artillery Company to Join the Grant Army in a few days—

I thank you for the intelligense you give me of Our Affairs they appear not to be in Quite so good a State as I could wish them but hope General Gates’s Arrival there with the Great number of Militia which we are told are flocking in will change the face of things

I rejoice to hear the No. Carolina Troops are in high Spirits whenever they are led to Action I hope & believe they will Acquit themselves like brave men I am greatly obliged to you for enquiring after Captain Caswell and giving me an Acct of his health give me leave to request you will be pleased to enquire frequently into his Conduct and Give him such advice & Assistance as you would wish to be given by your friend he a Son Circumstanced as he is, & so far distant from his parents I hope he will greatfully receive either from you in a becoming Manner

Dr. Burke I shall be Glad to see whilst he shall happen to be in this State, I immagine he will have left Philadelphia before this reaches You, I shall therefore omit writing to him this post, his Stay here I persuade myself will be but Short The Council is to meet here this day some of the Members are here, to that Board I will do myself the pleasure of delivering your Compliments—

We have been Alarmed with the rising of Tories & forming of Conspiracies, the former among the Highlanders & regulators & the Latter in the County of in which you had the Honor to draw your first breath And in Bertie & Martin the Militia in some places was called on to Quell the first but the insurgents only proceeded to Cross Creek under pretence of geting Salt which they were Supplied with & finding the Country Alarmed and ridy to treat them as they deserved desisted from proceeding any further, the other Gentry many of them have been apprehended and Committed to Goal in order to take their Trials in the Courts of Oyer among them is Mr. Brimage who Attempted to Escape got as far as Ocacock where he was apprehended carried up to Edenton & Committed to a poisonous & Noysome Dungeon as he calls it in a Letter to me, He asks my interference with the Justices to Admit him to Bail which I did not think proper to meddle in

We have heard of the Arrival of upwards of 200 of Enemies Fleet in Chesapeak Our Militia on that Account is held in readiness that is the first & Second Divisions, to March at the Shortest notice to the Assistance of Virginia and I have had intimation from the Governor that if Certain incidents happen he shall Expect our friendly Aid of Men &c

I shall be extremely Glad to hear from you at such Times as you can Conveniently spare a few Minuets to Communicate any thing you may be Pleased to write me to know

I am Dr. Sir

Yours &c

RC

Co Letters to The Hon.
Cornelius Harnett &
Jno. Penn Esquires
2d September
1777.