Sav. in Georgia 20 June 1775.
No 51
My Lord, The Liberty people have now got another pretence for raising men, they assert that Mr. [John] Stuart the Superintendant has been endeavouring to raise the Cherokee Indians to come down against them, this they alledge that they have got undoubted proof of, and all he can say will not convince them to the Contrary, his Friends in Charles Town gave him a hint, and he left that and came here but they sent some of their party here who have so inflam'd & enrag'd our People, that he did not think himself safe, and His Majesty's armed Schooner St. John having put in from [New] Providence, he went on boarq her & I suppose by this time is saild for St. Augustine. And several Boats full of men from the Carolina side, have been down at our Inlet some days, the Accounts differ as to No. some call them 50 others 80 all well & completely arm'd. Some alledge their intention was to seize on Mr. Stuart which very probably was part of their errand, But I believe they have another point in view and that is 3 Vessells being expected here from London and a considerable quantity of Gun Powder being on board for the Indian Trade, they intend to seize on that & carry it to Carolina and this is certainly in their power to do and its not possible to prevent it, if attempted and one of these Vessells arrived here on Saturday the 18th inst. & the Capt. one Ash informs me that several Boats lay off a little way from him & that one with 3 or 4 men came on board and one of them inquir'd whether he had any Gun Powder on board and on showing his Cockets and their finding he had none they behaved very civilly and went away, but made great inquiry after another ship one Maitland who has a large quantity of Gun Powder on board and it is said they intend to watch our Inlet till the others come and to take out all the Gun Powder And if that is the case I am much afraid it will embarass us with the Indians for they have for some time being very impatient for their usual supplys and in order to pacify them I have told them that the difference we had with them last year prevented the Merchants from sending for goods, that none was wrote for till after our disputes were settled in Octr last and that it takes a great while for ships to carry letters and orders from hence to England and that then the goods would be to make (I told them this to gain time) and afterwards be sent here and that sometimes ships had very long passages and we would not depend on a supply till late in the summer and with this they were tolerably well satisfied, but if they are now disappointed they will conclude we have some design against them and I can't tell what may be the consequence for they are a very jealous suspicious people and as they have been told by the Chickesaw Indians that the White people are going to join the Chactaws against them it may confirm that report and thus Your Lordship sees the state we are in in every respect and no King's Sloop or Cruizer heard of yet. By the inclosed Paper Your Lordship will see the extraordinary Resolves by the People of Charlotte Town Mecklenburg County and I should not be surprized if the same should be done every where else. I have the honor to be [&c.]