Mr. President laid before the Council the following letters which he had written by their direction:

Charles-Town, South Carolina,
Jan. 2nd, 1776.

Gentlemen ー Your several letters of the 20th and 25th Nov., and 9th Dec., and one of the 5th Dec., from the Committee of Safety for the District of Wilmington, are before this board....

We wish it was in our power to assist you with the article of gunpowder. But as we are ordered by the continental representatives to defend Charles-Town to the last extremity; and as we have undoubted intelligence that a formidable attack is very soon to be made upon this capital ー we considered our store very scanty, even for the purpose of defence ー and we trust our people will exert themselves to such effect, as to make, if we are to be overpowered, the want of ammunition the last extremity.

We have various voyages in motion for procuring that article; and if your wants continue, you may depend upon sharing in our success, if one half of our vessels return agreeable to our expectations.

The Scorpion man-of-war has been here, and sailed again about a fortnight ago, with two Bermuda sloops and a coasting scooner, together with, as we are informed, thirty or forty negroes which Capt. [John] Tollemache was pleased to seize while he was in Rebellion Road. From the time of such seizures, we resolved to supply the men-of-war with no more provision, nightly maraudings and robberies on our sea-coast immediately followed; but those being soon well guarded, and a descent made upon Sullivan's Island, where the house thereon was burnt, and some important prisoners taken, the Tamar and Cherokee, together with the Sandwich packet and an armed scooner, have been reduced to a very small stock; these vessels, therefore, are now to remove from out of this harbour in search of provision, and would have gone over the bar yesterday if the wind had not failed. We are told they are bound to the river Savannah ー and we fear they have more mischievous schemes a foot than merely to obtain bread and beef ー probably to protect ships loading there in violation of the General Association, and to over-awe the friends of liberty.

We have been frequently spurred on to preparations for defence, by such reports as you had received of ships and fleets on our coast. Hitherto, however, we have remained quiet from the sea board. But no doubt the day will come; the longer it is postponed the better, we shall be provided against it. We have no great powers, and, therefore, make no boast ー such as we have we trust will be fully and properly exerted.

The bearer of this Capt. Alex Wylly, is the owner of the scooner which Capt. Tollemache conducted from hence, as Mr. Wylly learns for North-Carolina, in order to obtain a condemnation in admiralty. He is satisfied in himself, that there is no foundation for condemning the vessel, and, therefore, intends to lay a claim, and hopes for success. He has procured recommendations from some of his friends here to merchants in your colony. We beg leave to recommend him to your countenance and such protection as you can afford to an unfortunate man brought to poverty by one common enemy. ²

By order of the Council of Safety.

Henry Laurens, President.

Provincial Council of Wilmington, N. C.

Charles-Town, Jan. 3rd, 1776.

Gentlemen ー Your favour of the 28th Dec. did not reach us till yesterday. We are sorry to learn that the New-England vessel had sailed before you received our letter; but are nevertheless well satisfied with your proceedings.

Your informations of the illicit practices by Ellis, Findlay and Tidyman, we hope will produce good effects. We have committed particular examinations to be taken by the General Committee. Last night Mr. Ellis was called before the Committee, and after much prevarication and many improbable excuses, he acknowledged the cargo of rice in question was shipped by Mr. Todd (of this town) without his knowledge and consent; said, that the master's going with the scooner into Santee was also contrary to his order. Mr. Todd said the cargo was the property of Mr. Ellis one half, himself one quarter, the master one quarter, and intended for Cape Nicola; and both acquitted Mr. Tidyman, from whom they had purchased the rice, from having any interest or concern in the exportation.

The General Committee have ordered a special messenger to summon and cause to appear before them on Wednesday, the 10th instant, Mr. Tidyman and Mr. Philips on the second information; and we request you to transmit, either to the General Committee or this board, such further evidence in these cases as may or shall have in the mean time come to your knowledge.

We shall write to the Committee for St. James, Santee, by this opportunity, and hope that committee will be more active hereafter than they appear to have been hitherto.

Mr. Scott will probably obtain permission, this day, to load his vessel on public account, agreeable to order of the continental resolutions.

By order of the Council of Safety

Henry Laurens, President.

Committee of George-Town.

Charles-Town, Jan. 3rd, 1776.

Gentlemen ー In order to prevent the increase of an illicit practice of loading vessels in this colony, contrary to the resolutions of the Continental Congress, we have found it necessary to write to the Committees of George-Town and Beaufort, to be watchful against all attempts to contravene the said resolutions. We have just received advice from the Committee at George-Town, of a scooner loaded in South Santee river, within your district, the master's name is Findlay, the owners Messrs. Ellis and Todd, and that Mr. Philip Tidyman was concerned in the cargo. We desire you will collect and transmit to us all the information you can in this affair and that for the future you will be watchful to guard against such violations of the continental orders, and also that you will suffer no vessel to load in any river, creek, or other water within your district, without special permission from this board; and that, if necessary, you will use force against any person who may attempt to resist or condemn your orders, and give, upon every occasion, the earliest notice to this board; or to the [Provincial] Congress if sitting.

By order of the Council of Safety.

Henry Laurens, President.

The Committee for St. James, Santee.

Upon information that the armed scooner in Rebellion Road had put to sea this morning, full manned, the following letter was written.

Charles-Town Jan. 3rd, 1776.

Sir ー This morning early the armed scooner from Rebellion Road sailed, and as the wind is at S.W. 'tis probable she is gone up Santee river, in order to rescue and bring off Findlay's scooner, which was stopt by the Committee of George-Town. We give you this immediate notice thereof, and desire you will, without delay, cause the said scooner to be run up the river into some place of greater security than where she now lies ー to land the cargo if possible ー or even to scuttle and sink the vessel, if you can by no other ineans save her from falling into the enemy's hands. We know not the names of the Committee for Santee, but presume you are one of them. Be that as it may, we are persuaded you will do, and cause to be done what may be needful in this case. If the armed scooner is intended for Santee, you may expect her to arrive by 10 o'clock to-morrow, or perhaps earlier, therefore not a moment should be lost.

By order of the Council of Safety.

Henry Laurens, President.

Elias Horry, Sampson Negle, esqs. or any of the Committee for St. James, Santee.

The following was also written:

In the Council of Safety, Jan. 3rd, 1776.

Gentlemen ー We desire you will be particularly attentive to prevent any vessel whatever from loading any of the produce or commodities of this colony in any of the rivers, creeks, or other waters within your district, without special permission from this board, or the [Provincial] Congress when sitting.

By order of the Council of Safety.

Committee of Ponpon.

Henry Laurens, President.

In the Council of Safety,
Wednesday Evening, Jan. 3rd, 1776.

Mr. Samways attended, and acquainted the board, that he had come to town express to inform them, that the armed pilot boats in the service of the colony, having conducted a snow and a brigt. into Stono this morning, the armed scooner (late Stone & Duall's) had followed in and taken possession of both vessels.

Read a letter from Capt. John Wigfall, dated Cainhoy, 26th Dec, 1775.

Capt. Joseph Vesey, of the armed pilot boat Hawke, attended the Council and reported, that he with Capt. Smith in the other boat, had this afternoon [sic morning], about 11 o'clock, conducted a brigantine from the Mediterranean, belonging to Mr. Scott of this town, laden with salt and some brandy, and also a snow from Jamaica, homeward bound, having lost her bowsprit, into Stano. But that the armed scooner (late Stone & Duvall's) full of men, had followed them in, and about three o'clock this afternoon, taken possession of both vessels.