[Extract]
No. 19.

My Lord;  The 21. June. His Majestys Schooner Saint John arrived here, last from Savannah: Mr. Stuart, the Superintendent of Indian affairs, came in her. He was under the necessity, to take refuge here, from some intelligence he had, that mischief was designed him, by the Rebels in Carolina: He narrowly escaped, my Lord, their fury, and would have passed a very bad time, by all accounts, had he fallen into their hands.

The day before, Mr. Shamier, Controler of the Port at Boston, came here, from an Assylum, in a Merchant Vessel, likewise from Charlestown, but last from Savannah.

The reports from Carolina, my Lord, are filled with every excess of outrage, and sedition. Things I fear will grow, from worse to worse, untill the wicked tumultuous spirit, gets a check, by a proper application of force; then, it amounts almost to a certainty, if one may be allowed, to draw features, of similar resemblance, that, from the petulant characteristic of this people, they will sink as low, and be as proportionally abject, as they have been upstart and insolent

I had a letter by the Schooner from Sir James Wright, that, things are taking a wrong turn in Georgia: but, my Lord, I am well informed, there is a strong party in favour of the constitution, with Sr James Wright which makes me hope, they will form an active force sufficient to keep down the factious, and save the province:

Sir James Wright desired a supply of a thousand pounds weight of Gunpowder. As the Ordnance Stores, your Lordship is pleased to mention in your favour of the 1st Febry No. 7. which His Majesty, had been pleased to command, to be sent to this place, were not come, we have only eight hundred weight of Corn powder, after fixing a small number of Mortar Shells, Howitzer Shells, hand-granades, and some round shot for the Cannon: I could not in prudence spare, any powder from this Province in our present situation. I assured Sr James when the stores arrived, if he then required assistance, all that was possible, and fit to be done, for His Majesty's service, he might rely upon from me; that the Merchants here expected a large provision of powder, any quantity of it, I would purchase for him.

When His Majesty's Schooner, whose station is on the Eastern Coast of this province, and the Island of Providence; left Savannah, Lieutenant William Grant, the Commander, told me, he had seen, "and had spoke to some of them" several Carolinians in arms, who had passed over to Savannah, to support such, as were factious and deluded among the people there. He shew'd me a note he had received from Sir James Wright, desiring to see him before he sailed, or that, he would return soon again to Savannah. I expressed some surprise, that he did not communicate with Sir James, before he come away; he said it was also imagined, the Carolinians were in quest of Mr. Stuart, the Superintendent, who was on board of him, that he apprehend they would attempt to burn the Ship; I told him, such enterprise, was not so easily done, that he would always have time enough, to discover such danger; that I did not know, of what moment it might be, to His Majesty's Service, his seeing Sir James Wright, that I had a dispatch for Sir James which was of a secret nature, and desired he would take it, and deliver it to him with his own hand. I precautioned him, to be observing and circumspect, as he proceeded, to procure all the intelligence, he could, but not to be too soon alarmed. He sailed from hence the 28. June, with my answer about the powder, which I was apprehensive, would be opened, if sent any other way.

I do not now write, my Lord, from certain intelligence, but, common fame has blown it about, that the Carolina people intend to visit this province. I am therefore, preparing to put every thing in the best state of defence. I shall, my Lord, order the Engineers directly, to lay down the roads and paths, between this Place, and Georgia, with the passes through the Swamps, and defiles, as we have no map of the Province, and, the posts fit to be taken, that, I may make their advancing into the Country, as difficult as possible; Isshall take proper care of the Fort, and do all that is possible, to make them repent of their excursion, in case it takes place, which indeed I hardly think possible, for, they will surely have enough, for the present, to engage their attentions at Home. . . .

St Augustine 1st July. 75