Bermuda Sept the 13th 1775
No 24
My Lord I was disappointed, of any oportunity of Conveyance, for any letters either to Your Lordship, or to General [Thomas] Gage, until the 3d of September; I had agreed with the Master of a Vessel to go to Boston, for fifty pounds, to carry my Despatchess and some live Stock to General Gage.
And just as the Sloop was getting under Sail, the Mate of the Vessel, I suppose having been tampered with, refused to go. However I put a Negro of my own and another Negro on board, and the Captain put to Sea in the evening, with only three negroes with him.
And some little time after, the Vessel got out of the Harbour, three Members of Assembly, and two of them were Delegates, mustering up any Common People, that they could readily meet with, to the Number of 16, or eighteen, went in a Boat, in pursuit of the vessel, in order to bring Her in again, or to take the Despatchess. Under pretence that the Sloop might have Rice or flour on board, notwithstanding they knew very well, that there was not any on board. As soon as I had information, that they were gone on that Villanous Errant, being on the Hill looking to the Sloop, I made a signal by a fire, from the Hill, which was agreed on, with the trusty old negro, and a good Pilot that I had sent with the Captain, to make Sail on Seeing a fire.
The Boat with the 16 or 18 People, did not return 'till after 12 o'Clock at night, or one in the morning, and gave out, that they had been on board, but found no Grain, and therefore let the Vessel go, but some of them said, that there was some blows, with the Captain of the Sloop, and one of the Young f ellows, that went in the Boat; however I don['t] believe, that they got on board the Sloop, for it blew pretty fresh in Squals, and they Say, the Boat had like to have been lost.
The Revd Mr Lyttleton was to have gone in the Vessel, but did not come to Town in time, until it was night, and the Signal had been made, for the Vessel to make Sail, that the Boat might not get up to Her.
I sent Your Lordship intelligence as follows to be forwarded by General Gage, which I repeat, least any of my former letters, should be intercepted or that the Captain and my Negro in the Sloop, should have received any Damage, or the letters taken away by the People in the Boat.
On Monday in the night of the 14 of August, when many members of Assembly were come to Town, agreeable to Adjournment the Powder Magazine was broke into on Top just to let a man down, and the powder Room door, most Violently and Audaciously forced open from the inside, at the great hazard and risque of the Magazine blowing up, and about one hundred Barrels of powder stole and carried off; and it may be Supposed put on board of a Vessel, Called the Lady Catherine, belonging to Virginia, bound to Philadelphia, or a Schooner Called the Charles Town and Savanna Packet,2 belonging to South Carolina, both these Vessels Sailed, from the west, end of these Islands, twenty miles or more from the Magazine, on Monday morning, but were seen on Tuesday morning, and pursued by the Custom House boat, which I ordered to be sent out, but she could not over take either of the Vessels, And it hath been Said, since that wicked affair was perpetrated, that the Country Whale boats towed the Vessels off. A large Reward was offered by Proclamation, as mentioned in my former letters, to any Person or Persons, that should make discovery &c, and bring any off ender or off enders to Conviction.
I hope the Admiral,3 will be able to Spare a frigat to come here and the General some of the Sick to Recruit, from the benefit of the Climate and other Conveniencys.
Otherwise I dont know what they may do, to the destruction of Myself the Chief Justice the Captain, and the few friends to Government. I sent the Negro fisherman, as good a Pilot, as any belonging to Bermuda, for the Purpose of bringin in a vessel in case they should send me.4 I am My Lord [&c.]
[Endorsed] R[eceived] 26th Jany 1776