[Extract]

Since my Dispatch No. 38, giving your Lordship an Account of the outrages committed at Fort Johnston, I received by a tender from New York on the 22nd of last month, the Duplicate of your Lordship's Dispatch No. 16, which from its date must have accompanied your letter by the May mail, that were violated by the Committee of Charles Town, as I have formerly represented, and was there with held, as appears evidently I think from the allusion to its contents in the Publication of the Committee at Wilmington in the enclosed paper of the 28th day of last month. I learn that the June mail is since arrived at Charles Town, and I flatter myself that the Postmaster persuant to my advice has lodged your Lordship's dispatches to me in security on Board his Majesty's Ship stationed there, but I have been deterred from sending for them as yet, by a strange and almost incredible rumour that there are armed Vessels fitted out by the people of Charles Town, constantly cruizing off that place, of force superior to any Vessel we can get to send for them . . .

The probability of the Cruizer being compelled to leave her station here for want of provisions, or to cruize for smugglers or pirates, and the certainty in that case of the artillery belonging to Fort Johnston falling into the hands of the mob, determined me some weeks ago to spike the Guns, and to burn the carriages that were rotten and utterly unserviceable . . .

The sundry depositions of Masters of Ships enclosed will show your Lordship the motives & designs of the Rabble who did the Violence at Fort Johnston, that of Mr [William] Todd refers also to a remarkable extravagance of Mr Dry's which is still better confirmed to me by the Testimony of a Gentleman of consideration who was present at the time.

I have the honor to be &c.