Honble Gentlemen We had the pleasure of writing to you some time ago by Mr. Goddard surveyor of the Post Office, we now send by the waggon that you directed us to procure (to the care of Saml. Johnston Esquire at Edenton) the Drums, Colours, ² Fifes, Pamphlets and a quantity of Powder to make up the load, we hope you will receive them safe and doubt not you will cause them to be distributed in such manner as to make them most usefull, we have searched almost every Booksellers shop in this City for pamphlets but have made a poor Collection, few are Written, none read, since the appeal to Arms,

You will please to observe that 400 lb of the Powder is the property of Mr John Cooper with whom you are to account, the remainder, and all the other articles are to be placed to the Credit of the United Colonies and such of them as are expended in their service you will charge to their account, we obtained an order on the Commissary for one Ton of Powder which with the Cash we have received is charged to our Colony, the Waggon cannot carry the whole of it with the other articles, if no good opportunity should offer to send you what remains we shall take care that the Colony has credit for it, If the accounts and Vouchers for the several Articles we have purchased can be had in time they shall be sent herewith, if not, we shall transmit them by the first safe hand as also an account of the sums we may receive from the Public Treasury.

you have herewith sundry resolutions of Congress (part of which have been transmitted before) we beg leave to recommend them to your Serious attention,

The Third Regiment which you are raising and the Vessels of War you are Fitting out will enhance your expenses amazingly, the whole will be too much for your Strength to accomplish, we therefore take the liberty to request of you to forward to us as soon as may be an exact account of your expenditures for the three Battalions on Continental pay and for the Indian Treaty with every other charge that you have against the united Colonies, we also wish to have an exact State of your Army, a particular account of your Navy expence, a State of the Strength and disposition of your minute men and military & what arms, amunition and Cannon may be wanted for the defence of the Province.

we have had very lumping accounts from two or three Colonies, some of our members have made severe animadversions thereon and the Congress has ordered them back for explanation, we entreat you to be very particular in making out your public accounts so that it may be seen at one view how and for what the money has been expended, it is necessary to inform you that no draught on the Treasurers of the United Colonies from any Province or public officer whatever is paid till Congress has inquired into the matter and directed the President to issue his order to the Treasurer and a minute of the whole transaction made on the Journal, when if the sum is for a particular Colony, that Colony is charged with it and is accountable for the expenditure, your own Judgment will point out to you the wisdom of this measure, you will please to direct us what sums of money to apply for and how they shall be remitted.

By the latest accounts from England down to the 17 of November we have reason to apprehend that our Colony will be attacked in the Spring, we submit it to your consideration whether it would not be prudent to call a meeting of the provincial Congress earlier than the first of May that you may be the better enabled to Counteract the wicked designs of the ministry by providing against the Armament intended to destroy your liberties, for further particulars respecting News we refer you to the public papers enclosed.

It is more than probable that the American seas well be covered with Men of War and cutters in the Spring for the purpose of intercepting Vessels and plundering the Shores for provisions, the sea Coast of our Colony is very extensive and may require your notice and attention.

We need not urge to you the Necessity of giving all possible encouragement to the recruiting service till your three Regiments are compleat, to the forming independent Companies where the minute establishment is deficient or not approved, and to the making Arms, Salt Petre and Gunpowder. We are with the greatest respect & esteem Gentlemen [&c.]

Honble Cornelius Hartnett Esqr and the other Members of the Council of Safety of North Carolina.