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Dear Sir:

I have this day received a letter of the 10th Inst. from Col. John Salter, informing me that Col. James Gorham had destroyed his Commission 6 months past, and refuses to give any orders, that the Militia is much out of order, and that reports by General Simpson and others have been propagated so as to induce a belief that Commissions dated before the peace, are of no effect, desiring new Commissions to be forwarded to him.

Now Sir, you know that unless Col. Gorham had made a formal resignation of his Commission no new one can regularly issue, and if he thinks proper to do so, the advice of the Council must be had on the appointment of his Successor, who is to continue in office only until the succeeding Assembly. As I have not a list of the present field officers for Pitt, I have taken the liberty of troubling you with the Commission; please to fill in the four for the field

officers, according to the Assembly's appointment. On presenting Col. Gorham's Commissions, he will of course inform you if he means to continue in office; if he does, please to deliver him the 36 Commissions for Captains, Lieutenants and Ensigns of 12 Companies, to be filled in by him, and the Companies properly arranged, numbered and returned. If he declines acting, be pleased to deliver them to the Lieut. Col. whose duty it will be to do his business, and I rely on your giving the necessary orders, for their arrangement, the Exercise of the Regiment, and a proper return to be made. I presume Col. Salter is the Lieut. Col. If he is, and Col. Gorham declines, his vigilance will not want a spur. I expect orders will be sufficient for him.

I am really concerned to hear Col. Gorham is so dissatisfied. It will give me pleasure to know that he retracts and will enter spiritedly into the business. If he accepts the Commission and does not attend to orders you, I have no doubt, will do your duty.

Excuse the trouble I give you, out of the immediate line of your duty. It being within your own County, was the inducement to it.

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