Gentlemen: ー The great length of Potomack River from its mouth to Alexandria where men of war can go & the probability of some attempts being made by the enemy in that Quarter make it prudent in our opinion to erect beacons or signals for communicating intelligence of their approach up the river in a more speedy manner than can be done by land. We have therefore appointed Colonel [Hugh] Mercer of the third & Colonel [William] Peachey of the fifth regiment to examine the river & fix the different posts & mode of continuing these signals, but as we are aware that the course of the river will make it necessary that many of them should be set in your province, we hope you will approve the measure & name Commissioners on your part to co-operate with the above named Gentlemen in effecting it. We hear of no more naval arrivals & the former quiet as to depredations on shore & up the river confining themselves to seisures in the Bay when they have an opportunity. We have had no intelligence of General Clinton since he went out: ー We are Gentlemen [&c.]

Edm^d Pendleton, P