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Sir  Since my last Letter to your Excellency I have entered into an Agreement with Mr. Barton for procuring the number of Ship Carpenters & Seamen you proposed to be raised here, and I was informed by him Yesterday that he had procured Thirty Six in the whole about one half Carpenters and the other Seamen, that he could have compleated the whole number before now; but chooses to have such men as will Answer the purposes for which they are designed, & that he shall soon compleat the number & be ready for embarkation as soon as the Vessel arrives. I enclose your Excellency a Copy of my Agreement with him containing the Terms & Conditions, upon which they are to enter into the Service.

Your Letter of the 29th July last I have received & would observe to your Excellency that the Militia of this Province are not to be depended on case an Attempt should be made on this Province by the People of the Eastern Parts of New England, as most of them especially in that part of the Country are from New England, & am very Doubtful whether the greater number are not too much of the same Sentiment with the People of the Country from whence they are derived.

By Advices from Machias, it is now rendered certain Mr. Knight is taken & both his Vessels. That a Vessel has lately arrived there from Philadelphia sent by the Congress with Provisions That OBrien who commanded the Vessel fitted out to Cruize for the Provision Vessels Bound from this Province with Cattle & other Provision, is gone to the Congress at Philadelphia for orders, that another Person commands her. We are informed that along the Eastern Coast several small Vessels are fitting out for the like purpose so that Navigation between Boston & this Province will become uncertain & Dangerous  That I have had these matters before His Majesty's Council & the Copy of the Letters, & their result thereupon will herewith be Transmitted to your Excellency.

I had ordered the new Recruits being about 36 Men with their Officers to march to Windsor about 40 Miles Distant from hence, where the Vessels & Stock now are waiting for Convoy. I had Advice from hence that they woud be in Danger not only from the Pirates at Machias who have been into the Bason of Minos but from some evil minded People of this Province, & that this was a most necessary measure for their Protection but the Officers have refused, as your Excellency will perceive by their Letter here inclosed.

I cannot but observe to your Excellency that this kind of behaviour of his Majesty's Officers will have a tendency to render them entirely useless hitherto I have been able with the Assistance of the Civil Magistrates to preserve this People in due Obedience but from Appearances I shall not be able to continue them much longer without the Assistance of some Troops & Officers who will pay due Obedience to my Orders. And the Navy & Army will be Defeated, & disappointed of their expectations of receiving any more Supplies from this Province, which at best will be very inadequate to their wants. I am [&c.]