Honorable Gentlemen

We received information from Genl Washington about ten days ago that the Mercury Ship of War and several Transports with General [Henry] Clinton and a number of Soldiers on board had sail'd out of Boston harbour and that he was informed they were bound to New York, in consequence of this intelligence he had sent of[f] General Lee to take the Command of such forces as could be immediately marched into that City for its defence. General Clinton arrived before the Town in the Man of War on the same day that General Lee marched into it, we are this day informed that one of the Transports full of Soldiers has got into the harbour, it seems to be doubtfull wether Clinton intended to land in New York had he arrived there in time, some think he is to proceed to the southward, his going in there has occasioned much Speculation, it is generally believed by those who get the best information and we have not the least doubt of the fact, that he is on his way to North Carolina and that he called at New York to confer and advise with Governor Tryon respecting the situation of our Colony, the Number & temper of the people, and in what manner he might best attack them with a probability of success, the particulars as far as we have been able to obtain information of them are these: that seven Regiments were to embark from Great Britain about the first of december and proceed to Hampton Road in Virginia, there wait till Genl Clinton Joins them with the troops from Boston, settle the plan of opperation with Lord Dunmore and proceed to make impressions into North Carolina and the adjacent Colonies in such places and Manner as may best suit ー their purposes by dividing their forces, We thought it absolutely Necessary that you should be informed of these matters that your best efforts may be exerted to defeat the purposes of them, should Governor [Josiah] Martin supported by a body of these troops, introduce himself amongst the highlanders and Regulators the Consequences might prove fatal to our Colony,

We recommend it to your consideration whether it will not be prudent to call a meeting of your Congress early in April or sooner if it can be done with propriety, will it Not be proper to appoint several General officers to command the Militia in case large bodies of them should be called forth? Seven Regiments of 680 Men each with the Accession of Tories and perhaps Negroes will be a very formidable force and will require your greatest abilities to oppose, you will see by Lord Norths Motion in Parliamerit on the 20th of November what the Colonies have to expect from that quarter, we earnestly hope our Colony will stand firm and oppose the Tyranny of that ー Corrupt Parliament to the last extremity,

we wrote to you three days ago when we expected to have sent of[f] the Waggon, but meeting with a disappointment in the powder (that in the Magazine being all Cannon powder very coarse and ordinary) we Judged it improper to send any till the best kind can be got, we are obliged to detain the Waggon a few days 'till a Vessel arrived in the River (with Sixty Tone of Saltpetre Thirteen Tons of powder and 1300, Arms) gets up to Town, a copy of that Letter with sundry papers therein referred to we now enclose, we shall be glad to know the time you fix for the meeting of your Congress, and are with the utmost respect Honble Gentlemen [&c.]

The honble Corn[eliu]s Harnett Esq and the
other members of the Council of Safety of No Carolina