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paign. What may we not therefore now expect from them
when Experience and Acquaintance with their Duty has
qualified them to discharge it. When we are become better
acquainted with the Character of Officers and the men are
more familiarized to Danger and Discipline. We promise
ourselves Sir the greatest Advantage from a decisive Superi-
ority in Horse in the open Country where the scene of Action
will probably lie and are the more anxious on this Subject as
the Enemy are evidently increasing their number by every
means they can devise purchasing and stealing Horses for the
Purpose wherever they can be found. They have already
formed two Troops of Tory light Horse who are chiefly
employed in Kidnapping those civil officers who are distin-
guished for their Activity in executing the Trusts reposed in
them by Government. The Consequences of this to our
infant States are too obvious to need Enumeration. We are
sorry to say they have lately had such Success as will probably
encourage their Progress in this mischievous Business and
extend it very far unless they meet with some seasonable
Check. We apprehend therefore your Excellency and the
Gentlemen in Authority with you will fully concur with us in
the Propriety & necessity of recruiting this Corps with all
possible Dispatch & favor us with your best assistance in so
doing. The Regiments are nearly completed with
natives of the Country whose Time of service in the Infantry
having expired readily reinlisted in the Horse. These men
inured to Fatigue, Danger and Discipline have only to learn
the special Duties of that Service and will form excellent
Dragoons. The great Difficulty under which the Service
labors is the want of Horses and saddles to mount them.
On the one Hand to wait the tedious Process of collecting
Horses in the common mode of Purchase by employing
either Officers or Agents uncontrouled by any imme-
diate Authority will occasion great Fraud and Delay.
On the other Hand to use Force in any Degree appears
oppressive and leaves such lasting Discontent in the minds of
the Sufferers as not only sours and disaffects them to the
general Interests of the Country but to the particular State
where the Exaction is made. We have been therefore
extremely solicitous to find some Expedient to reconcile their
clashing Duties, an Expedient which may provide for the
pressing Exigence of the Service without wounding too deeply
those Feelings and Attachments which all men have for their
Property in a greater or lesser Degree. At Length Sir as the
safer and more effectual mode we have concluded to rely on
the Wisdom and public Spirit of the Gentlemen in Authority
in this and the neighbouring States and to request their Exer-
tions in the following Mode. We have made a Calculation of
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