Mr. President laid before the board the following letters which he had written by their order.

Charles-Town, Jan. 25th, 1776.

Sir ー Late last night your two letters, both of the 23rd, came to hand....

We have now the most pressing call upon us from the Council of Safety at Savannah, for the assistance of two hundred men. We desire therefore that you will immediately march that number, a few more if possible, under proper command to the banks of Savannah. Purrysburg we suppose will be the most proper spot, and give orders to cross over with safety and expedition, to land at such place as shall be judged most proper, and to put the whole under the command of the Council of Safety, whose orders probably will meet with the detachment at Purrysburg. They have applied also in terms equally pressing for gunpowder. We shall send a quantity to-day to the committee at Beaufort, and desire them to forward it from thence by the most secure passage by water or land....

By order of the Council of Safety.
Henry Laurens, President.

P.S. Sent in a canow under the care of Mr. Thomson, &c. Col. [Stephen] Bull.

Charles-Town, South-Carolina,
Jan. 24th, 1776.

Gentlemen ー Your messenger arrived late this evening with your dispatch of the 21st. We were immediately summoned, and having taken the contents of your letter under consideration, resolved, to send as much gunpowder as we can with safety to the common cause and our own particular circumstances possibly part with. We shall also give positive orders to Col. Bull, to march two hundred good men to the banks of Savannah under proper officers, to cross the river and land at the most convenient place, and to wait your commands; you will therefore be prepared to meet the commanding officer with orders, if time permits, at Purrysburg.

The excessive bad roads, high rivers and drowned swamps appear to us to be sufficient reasons for sending you the gunpowder by water, at least part of the way. We shall order it to be packed in tight casks conducted in a canow, first to Beaufort and thence towards Savannah, as the committee at that place shall direct, perhaps to New River, within eight miles of Purrysburg. Were we to send it by land, besides the imminent danger of damage from continual moisture and wet, we apprehend it could not reach you in less than seven days. Some parts of the road we are assured are impassable.

We are extremely sorry that we cannot spare you the full quantity which you have claimed; it is not in our power. We sent 5000 lb. of the powder which we received from you to Philadelphia for continental service and we expect every hour a further demand on us, strongly recommended by our representatives in general Congress, 2000 lb. more for North Carolina. We cannot, for these reasons, spare more than 2000 lb., for which, from the situation of your town, and the consideration that the ships-of-war have no men for adventuring hazardous enterprizes on land, we hope and trust will be an ample provision for your defence. We consider also the threatened attack upon Savannah, may be calculated as an amusement to us ー and make no doubt, but that every one of those ships-of-war now lying at Cockspur, will, after they have obtained a proper stock of provision, embrace the first favourable weather and steer for Charles-Town bar. We have about one hundred pieces of heavy cannon mounted, and are adding to the number with all possible dispatch: it is incumbent on us to be provided for serving them well with ammunition. Nevertheless our cause is one, and if you shall find it absolutely necessary to make a further demand, we will comply as far as we possibly can or dare do. We should guard against a stratagem for weakening this post, which appears but too manifest in the present instance.

Securing the person of your Governor and his suite was certainiy a wise measure; the brothers of his Excellency are doing our cause much mischief in St. Mary's river, where they load vessels with lumber, and from there they supply East-Florida with provision ー and we have a complaint to lodge against Mr. Panton of this place, now at Savannah. This gentleman lately exported from Mr. Gordan's plantation within this colony a quantity of flour to East-Florida, of which we have satisfactory proof: we therefore desire, that his person may be secured and sent to Charles-Town. He is one of those Men, whose "going at large endangers the public safety."

Nothing on our part shall be wanting for your further assistance. We pray God to grant you success.

By order of the Council of Safety.

Henry Laurens, President.

The Provincial Congress at Savannah.

P. S. Your messenger, Mr. Richardson, having complained that Georgia money will not pass currently on our road, we have supplied him with seven pounds currency. Upon questioning him, he assures us, that the bridges between this and Savannah River are in several places carried away, and that passage for a cart or waggon is at present impracticable.

The several favours of your Council of Safety of the 13th, and of Mr. President the 11th and 18th instant came duly to hand, for which we return our thanks.

Information being given to the Council that a Brigantine had come in over the bar, which might be an enemy.

Ordered, That a boat be sent down to reconnoitre: and that Capt. [William Henry] Drayton, in the Prosper, do immediately make sail to cover the said boat, and bring up the Brigantine if practicable.

[Read] a letter from Capt [Simon] Tufts, Otter Island, Jan. 23rd, 1776.