[Extract]
No 38. Duplicate

. . . I had the honour to mention my Lord, Captain Brown being sent to Georgia on a Flag of Truce, for exchange of Prisoners. I had in this my Lord another view. Frequent intelligence my Lord, had been brought me, that an invasion of this Province was intended by the Carolinas some Virginia Troops and Georgia, that preparations were making at Savannah and Sunbury, and the Philadelphia Congress had sent a fund to Georgia to defray the expenses of the Armament. I Judged it proper my Lord to send an experienced Officer to form a Judgement if possible of what was doing, and procure intelligence on which I could certainly depend. Such friends of Government as Captain Brown had an opportunity to see, confirmed my Lord, the intelligence I had received, and their previous measures he observed, exceeded any notions he had before entertained of their Capacities. Sunbury was crowded with Rebel Soldiers. They had a considerable number of Cannon of large Caliber, sixteen Vessels weTe in the Harbour for Military Stores and Provisions. Three Row Gallies mounting from eight to ten Guns ready for Sea, and they expected My Lord shortly from Savannah two armed. Sloops of fourteen Guns each, which the Georgians had purchased at Santa Cruz or Curasao. It is Captain Browns opinion, my Lord, the enterprise is seriously intended against this Province.

I had the honour to inform your Lordship, that the King's Ships were removed from the Province, that the Rebecca Captain Mowbray, who I had commissioned was the only Naval force, a few small Schooners armed for the Rivers excepted.

In this criterion my Lord, I determined to take into the Government Service the Ship Meredith of ten Guns lately arrived with Provisions from England, and have sent her into Saint John's River to act under Captain Mowbray in the Rebecca. A Provision ship of the same force from New York. the Triumvirate, I have also ordered for the same service, she was sheathing, and then to return to England, she is now getting ready with all dispatch. A Transport carrying ten Guns just arrived my Lord, with Recruits for the 14th and 16th Regiments, I intend to detain for this service, until we are assisted by some of His Majesty's Ships of War. . . .

. . . I have my Lord, informed Lord Howe and the General of these circumstances, by an advice Boat, and wrote in general to the Commanders of any of His Majesty's Cruisers that the Boat may chance to fall in with in her passage to New York. I have put the Provincial Militia on the best footing according to our situation, and have ordered the Rangers with several bodies of Indians to the frontiers of this Province ... We should be fortunate, if in the meantime, an Ordnance vessel appeared from England, with the Stores returned wanting last year, particularly the very long expected Gun Carriages. . . .

St Augustine 5th May 1777