To the Honble Henry Laurens, Esq., President of the Council of Safety.

Dr. Sir, This morning between nine and ten o'clock we discovered from Fort Johnston Two ships & a sloop to the Northward of the Bar. The misty weather prevented us from distinguishing whether they were Ships of War or Merchantmen. The Fog not clearing up, about one o'clock I dispatched a boat to reconnoitre them and see what they were; from that boat I have this moment learnt, that there is a large ship, a smaller one, & a sloop off the Bar, that neither of them had Pendants, but one of them had a Whisp, in her ensign. It is not in my power to inform you whether they are Ships of Force or not, as the most prevented the men from seeing whether they had guns or not, though our boat was near the Bar. This afternoon I stopped a Pilot Boat with a long Pendant as she attempted to pass the Fort, 'till I could be informed where she was going and her authority for passing. The Master of her behaved very insolently & told me I behaved exceedingly wrong in stopping him & that he would complain to your Board. I am not only warranted in what I did (according to my apprehension) by the order Congress of the 10th of Novr last, but the order of the late Council of Safety of the 17th of Sept. 1775 expressly directs the Commander of Fort Johnston to do all in his power to prevent people from going anywhere below Fort Johnston without a Permit from the Council of Safety giving him a good account of their intended business. I have the honour to be [&c.]