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Francis Nash Esquire.

I feel for the Distresses of the Inhabitants of Hillsborough and am anxious to afford them every security in my power, for this purpose I find it absolutely necessary to require that yourself, every Gentleman in Town as well as others who have any personal knowledge of the Riots at last Hillsborough Superior Court do attend in Newbern on the 11th day of March next (when another Court of Oyer and Terminer will be sitting) in order to furnish materials for indictments against the Insurgents. Without such previous steps essential to Government and to ground military operations upon I plainly see my further attention to the service of this Country will be ineffectual. In the expectation therefore that the Gentlemen and others will attend to give evidence at Newbern at the time above mentioned you may assure the Gentlemen I will most cheerfully provide a Body of Troops to support them and to bring the distractions of this Country

to a happy conclusion. But should they fail in their punctual attendance, as the evidences summoned to attend the 25th instant have failed to do, I shall certainly make use of His Majesty's leave of absence from this Government and speedily return to England where my military service may be required.

It is not thought expedient to send Subpœnas to the witnesses as they may tend to discover the intention with which you leave your Settlements, however I shall give warrants on the Treasury to the witnesses for such sums as they would be entitled to were they actually served with subpœnas.

Your answer with the resolution of the Gentlemen will fix the determination of

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