At a meeting of the Council on board His Majesty's Sloop Cruizer in Cape Fear River on Tuesday the 18th July 1775
Present
His Excellency the Governor  The Honble James Hasell Lewis DeRosset and John Sampson Esquires
The Governor informed the Board that in consequence of the just Representations of Captain [John] Collet Governor of Fort Johnston, that the Garrison of that place was reduced to no more than three or four men that he could depend upon, and that he had received advice of a considerable body of the People of the Country being collecting in order to attack the place, he had thought it advisable for the preservation of His Majesty's Artillery to dismount the Guns in the Fort and to lay them under the protection of the guns of His Majesty's Ship of War and to withdraw the little remnant of the Garrison the shot and small Stores and to place them in security on Board a Vesyel lying under the protection of the Kings Ship.
The Council approved of the steps His Excellency had taken for the preservation of His Majesty's Artillery.
Francis Parry Esqre Commander of His Majesty's Sloop Cruizer representing to the Governor in Council that seamen were continually offering to enter on board the King's Ship under his Command, whom he could not take as he had his complemt of Men, and who would enlist under the Standard of Rebellion for the sake of the bounty money given, and might and probably would be employed against the King's Ship if as was reported, the People meditated an Attack upon her.
The Governor and Council taking into consideration the representation of Captain Parry were unanimously of opinion that if he found it consistant with his Majesty's Service it would be advisable to retain the men who offered themselves on Board His Majesty's Ship under His Command until they could be otherwise provided for.
