No 5

My Lord,  My Letters No 2, 3, & 4, with a Duplicate of No 1, which was sent by the Scorpion, (Via Boston,) will I hope reach your Lordship in Safety. I sent them by the Sandwich Packet Boat which sailed from here the 6th Instant under Convoy of the Tamar. The Man of War saw her 17 Leagues to Sea, & returned here Wedny the 9th ー We are now in such a situation I cannot attempt to send duplicates of my last letters, as I must be under the necessity of letting the Mail take its chance in a defenceless Packet Boat, for I cannot in our present State send the poor solitary worm eaten Sloop we have got here, out of the Harbour, as I may now expect the next packet every day, & am still in hopes of hearing from Genl [Thomas] Gage & the Admiral soon.ー

Your Lordship will I am afraid imagine I dwell too much, & too warmly on the wretched state we are left in here, but my Zeal for the King's Service my thorough Conviction of the ill consequences that has attended the total neglect of this Province, as well as Georgia, & N. Carolina, will not suffer me to remain Silent. Since my arrival here, I have seen Georgia a Province at present, of the last consequence to the W. India Islands, warp'd from its duty by a very insignificant internal faction, aided by the people in this Province. The friends of Government here have been so sunk, so abandon'd to despair, for some time, that it is hardly possible to make them beleive the British Nation is determined to assert their just rights over the Colonies, & it is to very little purpose I mention the great force to the Northward, when it is not in my power to produce a single line from either of the Commanders in that part of America, to enable me to contradict the numberless falshoods which are every day propagated, & which does more mischief than I can express.ー

This is a very disagreable Subject for me to dwell on, but my Duty requires I should represent the true State of this Province, & of my unfortunate Vicinage of N. Carolina, & Georgia, which is equally neglected, equally abandon'd. ー Your Lordship will I am sure excuse my warmth when I acquaint You, that Yesterday under colour of Law, they hanged, & burned, an unfortunate Wretch, a free Negroe of considerable property, one of the most valuable, & useful Men in his way, in the Province, on suspicion of instigating an Insurrection, for which I am convinced there was not the least ground. I could not save him My Lord! the very reflection Horrows My Soul! I have only the comfort to think I left no means untried to preserve him. They have now dipt their hands in Blood, God Almighty knows where it will end, but I am determined to remain till the last extremity in hopes to preserve the King's Service, 'tho My familys being here, adds not a little to my distress.

Another Act of Barbarity, tho happily not of so tragical a Nature was committed a few days ago, on a poor man the Gunner of Fort Johnson, who for expressing his Loyalty was tarr'd, & feather'd 10 or 12 times, in different parts of the Town, & otherwise treated with great cruelty, Stopping him at the doors of those Crown Officers who were most obnoxious; & the Mob so grossly insulted Mr Milligen in particular who is Surgeon to the Forts, & Garrisons in this Province that he was under a necessity of taking refuge on board the King's Ship till the Packet Boat sails. I intend committing this Packet to the care of Mr Milligen who I hope will have the honor of delivering it to Your Lordship. I beg leave to introduce him as a most honourable, worthy man, who has lived many Years in this Province beloved, & respected by all ranks, till his Zeal for the King's Service in these unhappy times, made him obnoxious to the Mob. This Gentleman is perfectly acquainted with the State of the Province, & I can assure Your Lordship You may put entire confidence in his Honor & Veracity.ー

I inclose with this a Letter I recd from Coll: Fletchal with my Answer: sorry am I to find myself unable to protect or assist the Kings Loyal Subjects here, it is a cruel mortification. I also send my Answer to an Address from a society of Quakers, in the back part of the Country; they consist of about 300 familys, & are warmly attached to Government. Your Lordship will likewise receive a Copy of an Oath tender'd to All those who refuse to sign the Association, my own private Secretary not excepted, & a Message I sent to the Assembly some days ago, with their answer, all which will plainly convince Your Lordship on what ticklish Ground we stand here. The Armed Vessel that was fitted out from this Port has seized a quantity of powder part of it the property of His Majy on board a Ship lying off [St.] Augustine Bar in E. Florida, & carried it to Beaufort in this Province. Last Sunday 30 of the Militia of this Town were sent to convey it here, & I am told that by one means or other, they have amass'd great quantities of warlike Stores, Ammunition particularly, which they can easily do, as there is no force by Sea, or Land to prevent them, & they allow Rice to be exported on no other terms, but paying in Arms & Ammunition. The new raised Troops which are quarter'd in the Barracks may be near 800 consisting of Vagabonds & Thieves of all Countries, & the Charles Town Militia may be pretty near the same number. The Regt of Horse was to be raised in the back Country; but I am told the levies there have been much check'd by Fletchal, Robinson, & one Cunningham, memtion'd by Coll: Fletchal in his letter, who is a very active Man, & remarkably spirited. Mr Milligan will give Your Lordship a very particular account of these matters that have fallen within his knowledge, as he is Sensible & intelligent.

As the fate of the Crown Officers is not determined by the Comme if Mr Innis is forced from me, Which I will endeavour by all means to prevent, he has offer'd at any risk, to endeavor an escape into the back Country, join Coll Fletchal, in concert with Mr Cameron the Dept Superintendant, but I will not now think of that Scheme. I have the Honor to be &c.

N.B. I shall encourage the Kings faithful Subjects as much as is in my power. I can do no more. Some expence may be incurr'd by my Orders to Coll. Fletchal, I have no power to do it, but I cannot hesitate at such a juncture.