(No 30)
(Duplicate)

My Lord  Since my last of the 12th of July the delegates of this Colony held a Convention in Richmond at the falls of the James River on the 17th of last Month, where they resolved to raise 3000 Infantry and three troops of Horse for the defence of the lower parts of this Colony and I am likewise informed that one hundred men are to be raised in each of the upper counties who are to hold themselves in readiness to March when called upon, and they propose emitting three hundred thousand Pounds in paper Currency for the payment of these troops, and those that were out under my Command last year against the Indians, they have laid their hands on all the publick Monies in the Receiver and Auditor Generals Offices, also on that in the Post Masters and Naval Officers, to a considerable amount; they have also prohibited the exportation of all sorts of Provisions from the 5th of this Month, which has given great disgust to many of their own party who had purchased great quantities of Grain which they meant to have exported before the 10th of September the time appointed by the General Congress  the Merchants of Norfolk have petitioned the Convention for further time, but with what Success is not known.

Tho' the proceedings of the General Congress do not transpire, I have every reason to believe that they have ordered an Army to be immediately raised (Stiled the Continental Army) they have also appointed a Treasury and are to emit a very large Sum of paper Money, which is to have Currency all over the Continent; the Congress is to be the Legislative body, the executive power is in the Council of Safety a General Committee is to act as Law Courts, in short they have now established a New Government at Philadelphia, and indeed our Pravincial Convention openly disavow all Allegiance to His Majesty or his Parliament.

His Majesty's Ship the Mercury being arrived and the Fowey ordered to proceed to Boston and the Mercury not having accomodation for me on board I have been obliged to Press a Ship for my own pIace of Residence, and she is now fitting up for my reception under the Guns of the two Men of War. The troops I sent for to St Augustine arrived last Night about Seventy in Number including Officers, (which has been the cause of many expresses from this to the Convention;) this is a very small reinforcement considering the Situation of this distracted Country, but I am still perswaded was I speedily supplied with a few hundred more, with Am Ammunition and the other requisites of War, and with full powers to act that I could in a few months reduce this Colony to perfect Submission; I received by the Vessell which brought the troops the inclosed dispatches* from Mr. [Patrick] Tonyn which I am happy to have so early an opportunity of transmitting to the Lordship as he informs me they are of the very utmost importance.

I transmit to your Lordship the Minutes of Council from the 20th of April 1774 to the 17th of June following, also the Account of His Majesty's revenue of 2/ per hogshead with the Naval returns to the 25th of April, which probably will be the last for some time. I am &c.

*supposed to be with the origl of this Letter2