Sir ー

Moses Kirkland came into Charles Town on Monday [September 11] late in the Evening & disguised, repaired immediately to the Governor at whose House he was accomodated with a Bed & from whence he embarked on Tuesday Morning in the Tamar's Boat & got Safe on board that Man of War ー these facts the General Committee were informed of [on] Wednesday ー the Committee Examined a young Man one Bailey Chaney who was Said to have accompanied Kirkland & amidst heaps of Shuffling & prevarication they collected enough to confirm not only their belief of Kirkland's being actually on board the Man of War but also that His Excellency held a correspondence with our Enemies of a very different nature from that which he had endeavoured by various arts which he had to represent to us as the true motive of his writing to Fletchal & others of that party, in order however to obtain more Satisfactory proofs Some of the Gentlemen of the Army by a Stratagem which Succeeded to their wish procured Such from his own Mouth as were indubitable, the particulars of which we Shall inclose & refer you to ー hence forward we can depend upon this Gentleman only as upon one who under the guise of Neutrality & even pretended friendship is devoted to work our destruction ー tis not improbable he will of his own Accord Soon leave the Colony, if he has any feelings he must do so in preference to being looked in the Face by Gentlemen whom he has deceived & by whom he has been so clearly detected be that as it may we judged it proper to Send a party of Men under the Command of Colla [Isaac] Motte to take possession of Fort Johnson which was effected before day light this Morning & the Garrison consisting of the impudent Gunner Walker & four other Men made prisoners ー but Callo Motte reports that the Governor who was at the Fort yesterday had ordered a party of Sailors on Shore from the Tamar & by their means thrown the Cannon off the lower Battery & destroyed many of the Carriages

This Moment your Packet dated 11th Inst by the hands of Fields Pardue was delivered to us ー We approve of the measures you have taken & you may clearly perceive that even in instances where you have not been altogether clear & explicit in your advices we have imputed the deficiency to the right Cause & put the most favourable construction on all your Acts. Kirkland has eluded all your Schemes, but we will not yet think him out of our Reach tis possible we may Still bring him to answer for his misdeeds ー his Companions Robinson, Brown & Cunningham's we hope will be taken or driven out of the Colony by you.²