Sir

I had the honour to acquaint you with the Schooner's arrival at Pensacola; as also with the State and Condition of her, and at the same time informed you of the Orders I had received from Capt Bromedge; and altho I conceived those orders Incompatible with your's of the 10 June, Yet I readily obey'd them Notwithstanding the Condition of the Schooner made it very hazardous to Carry her into deep water, she accordingly proved Leaky all the passage; & as her Leaks daily increased at Pensacola I gave in her State and Condition to Capt Davey Commander of His Majestie's Ship Defiance; but found it quite impracticable to get her repaired there, As neither Materials nor Stores were to be purchased at any Rate: and after having waited Six weeks without hearing any Accot of Govr [Montfort] Brown and it being quite uncertain when he might return from the Mississippi (the place he was supposed to be at) and well knowing that it would be impossible on account of the Worms to keep the Schooner free much longer, I proposed getting to my Station again if possible, tho' at the Extreme hazard of our Lives. The day preceeding that of my Intended departure an Express arrived from the Indian Nation informing that the Spaniards had attacked and taken St Augustine the opinion of the Council which was Immediately conveened, on the receipt of this News was I suppose the Occasion of my receiving the Inclosed Orders from Capt Davey, which I immediately complyed with Notwithstanding the bad Condition of the Schooner for such a Service: For the reasons of my being forced off that Station, the Difficulties and Danger we have encountered & the distress to which we have been reduced I beg leave to refer you to my Journal.

We arrived here with near four Feet water in the hauld and She went to the bottom a few minutes after while we were mooring her; ー I immediately apply'd to the Commander in Chief for a survey on her to which I also refer to & have sent another Copy Inclosed ー

It is realy impossible to find Words to express the very bad Condition of the Schooner's Bottom, which as soon as it istouched with any Tool, crumble to Dust: her fore part, as far as abafft the main Chains is quite a honey Comb: With the people that were able to work I have hove her down, Keel out several times, I have also purchased, tho' at a very Extravagant rate, Mahogany Plank and some other Materials in order to new Bottom and sheath her but as this place cant supply me with every necessary Article ー I am obliged to leave of[f] work after giving her New bows, Sheathing part of the Starboard side and Chaulking every Seam in her, that will bear it: I have paid [payed] her bottom four times over, but without Effect! She still Continues leaky & Keeps the pumps Continually going, ー Add to this her Masts & Boombs are either Sprung or Carried away; her Sails and rigging worn & torn to pieces & her Boats all straved [stoved] or worn out. In short its my Opinion she never can be made fit for service again, without a thorough repair in a dry Dock ー And as she is destitute of every kind of Stores, should it be yours Orders to have that done here, her refitting must amount to a very Large Sum, Owing to the very high price of Labour & every Materials at this place ー I have been obliged, to send already money to all parts of America and the West Indies to purchase Stores but without Success owing to the Disorder of the Times To this account of the Schooner I must beg leave to subjoin that of my self and my people, which is really alarming and Deplorable ー I have been sick for a Considerable time past, and am at present very unwell, My Officers and Servants all sick on Shore My Master is Dead and there are not three Well men to help the Sick on board: and the Sick are so Extremely Weak that it will be a long time if ever before they can recover their Health/ I must therefore beg your Advice & Directions with regard to my future Conduct relative to the Schooner, as soon as possible as I cant but be very uneasy untill I receive them ー There are some few Materials lately arrived here, such as Nails Pitch Tarr &ca and I now intend beginning to repair her with what things we can scrape together in the best manner we can. I have the honour to be with much respect Sir [&c.]

Copy

P.S. I beg leave to observe that I have been supplied with no Stores for three Years past but what I purchased & have had no Orders from any Commanding Officer since yours of the 10th June 1775, which subjects me to inexpressible Difficulties at the public Offices. They neither do nor will know my Situation and have only to rest on your good offices and Assistances, which I hope will be granted as it will be of the most Essential Service to me, having a just sense of your humanity and great goodness. I am Sir [&c.]

Wm Grant. ²