Your Excellency’s letter of the 2d instant respecting the violent taking of Timothy Pickering Esqr. the Prothonotary of the County of Luzerne in your State, out of his house, by persons unknown, being painted like Indians, did not come to my hands till yesterday, or I should certainly have done myself the honour of having sooner acknowledged the receipt of it. I had not before, nor have I since, heard anything of that atrocious violence. Should I receive any intelligence of the Perpetrators of it being found in this State, your Excellency may depend upon my using every exertion in my power and consistent with Law, to have the offenders “apprehended and brought to Justice, and for recovering that valuable citizen and good officer to his family and the service of his Country. With real esteem, Sir, I have the honour to be Your Excellency’s most obedient and very humble Servant