By Favour of the Honble Cornelius Harnett Esq.
Dear Sir,
I scrawled you a line of little consequence from Newbern; I can do no more now, as there is not a syllable of News here, worth Communicating to you. I am induced to write because I with to correspond with you, tho' I fear my anxiety for the public Cause, will make me tiresome in the repetition of my request for intelligence of Transactions in the busy part of the world where you are, as well in the Camp as Cabinet, especially as I wish to have your Judicious remarks with them. I presume before this, the Armies on each side have taken the field, and a busy scene begins to ensue; God grant us a favorable event. In my last I mentioned some men of war, being in here, it seems they only touched to water & render us what mischief they transiently could, and went out again. These Visits might be made disagreeable, if not altogether prevented, would your Western members lay aside their local prejudices, and consider the True interest of the whole state, and suffer us to have a fort there, till this is done we may not expect a trade, the want of which they also will be sensible of in time. I earnestly hope the pleasure of a long Letter from you by every opportunity.