Dobbs 6th June 1778.
Sir:
A petition signed by Lott Tallent, John Higoon, William Vanderford, and John Flake has been laid before me, setting forth that an Election in Capt. Wilson's company of your Regiment, Samuel Spencer, John Childs, David Love, William Love and John Hardy were agreeable to a late Act of Assembly chosen to serve as Soldiers in the Continental Battalions raised in this State, that the balloting was fair appears by the affidavits of Capt. Wilson and James Terry and a return offered you, who refused to receive it, and the next day you held a Court Martial, set aside the said election and appointed the said petitioners to serve as the quota of the said Company from the State of which facts and the said affidavits it appears a manifest breach of the Law has been made by the officers. Let the people have acted ever so ungenerously in their choice the power of judging was by the law left with them, and where a choice was made in the manner it appears this was (strictly agreeable to the law) no power I apprehend is lodged with the officers to dispense with it, I therefore recommend to you, in the most earnest manner to send on the persons so elected or their substitutes. Such a measure will prevent further disputes and prevent a complaint which those people seem to have justly founded from being carried farther. However, this is mere matter of advice, and if you and your officers choose to contest the matter further, you must appear before me in Council at Kingston the 15th day of this Instant to answer the said allegations set forth in the petition aforesaid. But I flatter myself the regard you and they have for the important cause we have in hand will stimulate you to do that justice
to those individuals which they are entitled to, and prevent the delay which otherwise must follow. I am Sir,