Preston at Boston 22 August 1775
My Lord
I have had the honor to receive your Letter June 30. I beg your Lordship to accept my Congratulations upon his Maj. gracious Appointment of you to the Government of South Carolina, and my hearty wishes that your Lordship may have a successul Administration; although the Accounts you have given me of the King's Affairs in that Province are unpromising indeed. It gives me particular uneasiness that so far from being able to increase the Number of the Kings Ships at South Carolina I am under the necessity of ordering the Tamer hither. Your Lordship may have been informed of her very bad Condition from Captain [Edward] Thornborough, and of the almost impossibility of her remaining any longer in the Service without the greatest Risque. For a small time only your Lordship will be without any King's Ship on the Carolina Station, but whenever the Squadron is reinforced, or I am otherwise enabled you may depend upon having every assistance in my Power.
The necessity of a frequent Intercourse between the Colonies and Boston, and for Frigates and small Vessels to be within each Government is evident; but My Lord 'tis a most distressing Situation to Know this, and yet be incapable of sending such succours to all Parts of the Continent as the Exigencies of the King's Service make absolutely necessary.
I am much obliged to your Lordship for your good opinion of my Zeal for the King's Service, and hope you will consider in its true light the urgent necessity of calling away the Tamer, in whose room I will send the very first Sloop I have to spare.
I am &c.
Sam Graves
1. Graves's Conduct, Appendix, 482, 483, MassHS Transcript.