About a week ago a small sloop from this town boarded a snow from England, in [St.] Augustine Bay, and carried off between twelve and fourteen thousand pounds of powder, mostly belonging to the King. She had been sent privately with thirty resolute men, well armed, by our Committee, in order to intercept the vessel on the coast, but was disappointed, being rather too late, for there were forty thousand pounds landed, with four brass field pieces, the day before our sloop boarded her. There were twelve soldiers sent from Augustine to assist and defend the snow, to whom our people gave ten guineas for helping them out with the powder, and being so modest as not to resist. A man of war was in sight, but fortunately aground the few hours our people stayed. We spiked up the snow's guns, and then went off triumphant, although attacked by three boats full of armed men. One got within a hundred and fifty yards, it being quite calm, but that moment a fresh gale sprang up. Our people brought their booty safe to Beaufort, a town on the coast, about seventy miles S.W. of this place. It was reported they were pursued by the armed vessels from Augustine; to which place, on hearing of this, our Council of Safety despatched fifteen artillery men and fifteen grenadiers, by water, and a company of our provincials to Beaufort, to assist the country people in the defence of the acquisition.
