Thursday January 16th 1777.

Whereas from the present naked and defenceless State of this Country it becomes matter of great and general import to the public Safety that this Board should be furnished from time to time with Speedy authentic and particular Account of the movements of the British Fleet and Army in order that the most early and effectual Provision may be made for our defence, And whereas the multiplicity of Business of general Concern to the American interest which continually engages  the notice, and engrosses the Time of the Congress, renders a strict and punctual Communication of Inteligence from that Source uncertain and precarious, from whence the executive power have suffered great Embarrassment. This Board having maturely considered the premisses, do resolve as follows:

Resolved that a Gentleman of discernment, discretion, Veracity and inviolable Attachment to the American Cause, ought forthwith to be appointed Agent of Correspondance for the purpose aforementioned to reside at or convenient to General Washington's head Quarters. Resolved that Jn* Walker esquire of Albemarle County be appointed to that Office, and that he be allowed for his Service therein the sum of One pound ten shillings per day, and all necessary Expences, to commence from the first day of this month being the time he set off from home agreeable to request of the Board to confer with them on this Subject, mr. Walker appeared in Council and received written instructions.

Source: Virginia State Library, Official Letters of the Governors of the State of Virginia, Vol. 1, The Letters of Patrick Henry, P92, 1926.