In the Council of Safety [Charleston],
Thursday, Dec. 14th, 1775.
Mr. [John] Rutledge laid the following draught of a letter to the Congress or Council of Safety in Georgia, before the board:
Charles-Town, Dec. 14th, 1775.
Gentlemen ー The Council of Safety have heard, with astonishment and concern, that several vessels are loading at Savannah for Great Britain; some with rice, and others, one in particular, of Mr. Tailfer's, with indigo.
It is true that the Continental Association did not prohibit the exportation of rice to Europe, or of other American produce, (except to Great Britain, Ireland, or the West Indies) after the 10th of last September; so that shipping rice to Great Britain before the resolutions of Congress of the 1st ult., (copy of which is enclosed) were known, was allowable. It is to be wished, however, that Georgia had pursued the conduct of the northern colonies, all of whom, we are assured, in consequence of the late restricting acts, suspended exportation, as this colony also did after the 10th of September, (except for purchasing the means of defence) till the sense of the Continental Congress should be declared on that subject; but, with respect to shipping of indigo to Great Britain, after that period, they are without excuse.
For the honor of your colony, and the interest of America, we shall rejoice to know, that a report so disgraceful to the former, and injurious to the latter, is void of foundation. We cannot yet be persuaded to think it otherwise, for we hope that the continental resolutions will be invoilably observed in your colony, as in any other, and doubt not that the disaffected in Georgia are so few, and the friends of liberty so numerous and powerful, that all attempts of the former, to hurt the American cause, will ever prove abortive.
We have, however, thought it expedient to address you on the subject, being desirous of obtaining a true account of the matter, from the best authority. We therefore request that you will favour us with it, by return of the bearer, and hope it will enable us to remove any ill impressions which may have been made; but if, unfortunately, the fact should be as reported to us, we earnestly entreat that your Congress, Council of Safety, or General Committee will take the most effectual measures for preventing so flagrant a breach of the Continental Association and resolutions.
We have been applied to, for leave to clear out vessels, with the produce of this colony for Great Britain, as a cover of safety, when it was pretended that such vessels should nevertheless proceed directly to a foreign port, and for the express purpose too of procuring ammunition; but we have refused our assent, and have ordered the committees at the out-ports to be watchful against such attempts, which, though specious at first view, are full of danger to the common cause, and might give great encouragement to designing men to commit frauds. The Congress at Philadelphia refused such indulgence even to those to whom they had given special license to export.
By order of the Council of Safety.
Henry Laurens, President.
The Provincial Congress, or Council of Safety, Georgia.
Ordered, That the said letter be immediately engrossed, and sent by express.
Upon information that Capt. Alex. Wylly, master of a coasting scooner which had been seized about five weeks ago, had come up to town last night,
Ordered, That the said Wylly be summoned to attend this board immediately.
He attended accordingly; and declared that he had been detained on board the Tamar, sloop of war, ever since the seizure of his vessel by order of Lord William Campbell, to whom he had been represented as a good coasting pilot; that he had repeatedly solicited his dismission, but could never succeed till he received an answer (which he produced) from Lord William Campbell, to a letter he had written to his lordship on the 5th inst., which being shown to Capt. Thornbrough, that gentleman readily restored him to his liberty. Capt. Wylly also declared that he saw a number of slaves belonging to the inhabitants of this town on board some of the ships of war, and on shore upon Sul,livan's Island, several of which he knew; and that a few days ago, when a report prevailed, that they were to be attacked upon Sullivan's Island, they were taken off the shore in boats sent from the ships, and that he saw about twenty of them carried on board the scooner seized from him, which scooner, as well as two negroes he left behind, was his sole property.
Capt. Wylly then signed the Association, declaring his frequent absence had prevented his doing so before.
The Hon. William Henry Drayton made an offer of his service in the naval department of this colony.
Ordered, That the said offer be taken under consideration tomorrow..
Ordered, That Col. Moultrie be desired immediately to procure and employ five proper boats, to cruize across the channels from James Island to the marsh of Shute's Folly, and within Hog Island, ordered, manned, and commanded in such manner as shall be most effectual to cut off all irregular correspondence with the men of war and other ships in Rebellion-Road.
