[Extract]
A Fellow, Lempriere, is to be rewarded in [South] Carolina, with a large Ship, mounting several Guns, for an act of Piracy committed off this Bar, he is to be stationed to cruise off Saint Marys River, to intercept whatever Vessels are coming to this Province.2
No opportunity having offered before to convey to your Excellency an account of this audacious attempt, I beg now to trouble you with it.
The 3d August in the afternoon, a Brig with Ordnance Stores, came off this Bar. The 4. the Provincial Vessel was sent to lighten the Brig, to bring as much powder out of her as she could stow. The Vessel returned the 5. with two hundred ninety three barrels of Gunpowder, the Brig being sufficiently lightened. The 6. being calm the Brig could not come into Port. The 7. in the morning at low water, a Sloop which was taken for a Negro Vessel, run on board the Brig, boarded with twenty six Men armed, took away a hundred and eleven barrels of the Kings powder, and some for the Merchants here. More powder would have been taken, but ten Soldiers were on board, as labourers without arms, to get the Ordnance stores out of the Brig: they grew angry, and began to plot, to seize some of the Pirates arms to drive them out of the Brig. The Pirates took the alarm, evacuated the Brig in confusion, leaving a part of their orders, signed Henry Laurens, and a draught on a Merchant, Mr. Broughton, in Charlestown for a thousand pounds Sterling, signed by the Commander Clement Lempriere, as they pretended in payment for the powder.
The instant I heard of this villainy, the provincial Vessel was equiped, with eight pieces of small ordnance, an officer and 30 Privats of the 14. Regiment, and sailed in pursuit of the Pirates: they arrived off Savannah Bar, a few hours after the Pirate Sloop got over it, and went the inland passage to Beaufort in [South] Carolina, from which Place she had sailed. In consequence of the Protest made by the Master of the Brig, the inclosed proclamation was issued; 3 I have tryed to get it inserted in the Georgia and Carolina papers, but cannot get it done: if your Excellency thinks it proper for the Boston Newspaper, you can do as you please. Since Lemprier has been off here, we have heard of two armed Schooners cruising. . . .
Sir James Wright has doubtless informed your Excellency, of the disaffection of Georgia, the Government being intirely wrested from him by Rebel Committee's. St Augustine 14. Sepr 75
