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My Lord,  I have had the honor to receive your Lordships letter of the 22d August, and another without date by Mr [John] Connolly, and am sorry to find you are still in so disagreeable a Situation, and heartily wish it was in my Power to give you that assistance you want. Your Lordship is the best Judge, as to the probability you may have of raising Provincial Troops; should you have such athing in your Power, I don't doubt, Government will gladly defray your Expence: At present I can neither assist you with Men, Money, Arms or Ammunition, for I have them not to Spare; should you draw upon me I have not Cash to pay your Bills, and I have found it difficult to gather as much Money as would Pay the Subsistence of the Army, and that at a very great loss in Exchange. I daily expect Money from England, but no more than will defray the Subsistence, and Contingent expences of the Army, and very small Sums will in future be had for Bills here.

The Detachment of the 14th Regiment is so formed and Employed here, that they can't at present be Spared, and if they could they would be to your Lordship but as Marines, as I understand from the Situation of affairs in Virginia, and from what Mr Connoly tells me that there is no probability of landing the Men, there being no Fort or Strong hold to throw themselves into, and having neither Cannon or Ammunition. As for the Remainder of the 14th Regiment at St Augustine, they will not be able to leave it, without they are Relieved by three Companies of the 16th Regiment, I have long since Ordered there from Pensacola, but I have as yet had no Answer to my letter.

I would willingly send your Lordship a Transport, but at present there is scarce any unemployed, they are gon various ways in search of Subsistence for the Garrison, so that it is impossible now to spare one: I have had Applications from other Provinces Similar to your Lordships, but never have been able to Comply with them; as you have lately sent a Vessel home, and I suppose Represented your Situation: I hope you will soon from thence have the Assistance you want, and which, I am very sorry is not in my Power to give You, for I am not supplied in the manner your Lordship may Imagine. . . .

The Troops with your Lordship are to be fed by the Contractors from St Augustine; and any person your Lordship may appoint for that purpose must draw on the Contractors for Pay, who will not Pay you may be assured, if the Ration amounts to more than is allowed by Government; In case of difficulties, and where no Provision is to be had we must do as well as we can, but I am not allowed to purchase a single Ration, no Commissary is now Employed to feed the Troops, they are only to see the Contracts put in Execution. I am [&c.]