I just now receivd your obliging Letter of the 24 of Octobr by the Post. I am exceedingly pleasd with the patriotick Spirit which prevails in our Genl Assembly. Indeed it does them great Honor. I hope the Increase of Pay will be confind to the Militia to induce them to continue in the Army till a full Inlistment of our Quota for a new Army shall be compleated on the Encouragement offerd by Congress which I have found since I left you is increasd by a Suit of Cloaths annually. Congress could not account for the Delay of the Assemblies to send Committees to the Camp agreable to their

   Recommendation but by your Letter I am led to believe that the Answer of our Assembly was among those letters which were lately stolen from an Express on the Road. The Necessity of immediate Application to the important Business of inlisting a new Army indued Congress to direct the Commander in Cheif to give orders for that Purpose even though the Committees should not have arrivd. I am glad however that your Committee is gone to Head Quarters, for I am perswaded they will be very usefull.(1) I hear with Pleasure that you have appointed a Committee of War.(2) It has ever appeard to me to be necessary and it must be attended with happy Effects. While we are taking such Measures as I trust will be eflfectuall to put a Stop to and totally defeat the Designs of the open Invaders of our Rights, are we not too inatentive to the Machinations of our secret & perhaps more inveterate Enemies? Beleive me, it is my opinion that of the two, the Latter are by far the more dangerous. I hope you have not many of these among you, Some I know you have. Measures are taking here to suppress them.(3)