No 23

My Lord  My former letters will inform your Lordship of the Powder Magazine being broke into, and most Violently, and audaciously forced open, in the night of the 14th of August, when most of the Gentlemen of the assembly were come to Town, agreeable to the last Adjournment. The above Villanous Scheme was Effected when least expected.

I have repeatedly Represented the Necessity and want of some Soldiers here, or a Sloop of War, but never expected that I should have so great Cause of Complaint as the above mentioned most Villanous Crime hath now Shewn.

The Civil officers of Government here, are very few, and those generally put in to office without any Recommendation from the Governor, and are dispersed in the Country.

Many People here practice a most Scandalous Calling and that is, by taking their Vessels Yearly & Constantly under pretence of going to Turks Islands for Salt, they go to a place they call the Cacoses, or a bunch of small Islands, Rocks or Sandy Banks, and there lye for months, upon the Watch for Ships or Vessels of any Nation, that may have the Misfortune to be cast on the Banks and Rocks there; when they themselves by Constant Practice, and use to the place, are so good Pilots as to escape all danger themselves.

This practice must of course make the People, and their Negrqes that use it, most ferocious and Accustome their Negroes to plunder, and to be public, as well as private thieves. And Your Lordship must remember, how I reported the[y] had Pumps and Rigging of a fine Ship from Ireland Cutt away and Carried off, and the Hulk of the Ship being gott off, and towed into Harbour is now sold and Repairing.² If they have no Success at the Cacoses, by that Scandalous practice, they go to Turks Islands, take in some Salt and Passengers, and return home And such as do not follow this practice, go to the West Indies, from Island to Island, Searching for freight and visit all the Islands, belonging to foreign Powers, such as St. Eustatious, Curaco, Senta Cruz, St Thomas &c &c.

Their Sloops or Brigantines crew are generally as follows. The Person that may be Part owner for a Captain or rather Director, the Mate doing the Duty as Captain, or rather Swearing Master, the rest all Negroes then in Case any thing of Contraband Goods is to be taken in, or discharged, the Swearing Captain may step aside, and the Negroes and their leader Complete the Business.

And by this practice of imploying a Number of Negroes Great Britain loseth the Nursery of White Sailors and their Ma1 Practices are easily carried on.

Besides the Carpenters, Masons, Blacksmiths, and Ship Carpenters are almost all Negroes. And the White People presume to be Gentlemen.

I shall likewise Recommend to His Majesty once more that it is as necessary that there should be one company of Soldiers quartered at the West end of these Islands, in Barracks Seperate from the People, and another Company at the East end, distributed in the Castle, fort and fortifications here, and likewise the frigates of War passing and repassing, to and from the West Indies, to Call as oportunity may offer which they may do with the greatest Safety, if our Pilots will look out for their arrival properly. And Sir Richard Bickerton can give Your Lordship farther information if You please to Shew Him this letter, in respect to the Situation or Navigation to Bermuda. My Lord since Delegates have been chose here, and the Congress at Philadelphia Petitioned under pretence that they might want Provisions, notwithstanding they had at that time more than they could either purchase or consume in Six or 8 Months, it is much to be feared, that the Inhabitants either of Philadelphia or South Carolina, might be encouraged to come here, and taken the Powder, and leave Bread, flour, or Rice in lieu.

Since these Delegates have been Appointed, at first at the Sudden Instigation of a few, there seems to be but very few friends to Government. And our Sloops may be imployed against His Majestys Troops, or good Subjects next, or the Cannon taken away.

I don't as yet know how I shall get this letter Conveyed to Your Lordship, as they have prevented any Person from hiring or chartering their Vessel to Me, either to send to Boston or anywhere else.

I am in very great Grief and Anxiety My Lord, for in the Rebels News papers, altho' very erroneous, and many falsehoods in them, both my Sons, very promising Youths, are Said to be Killed, and I know nothing to the Contrary.

I have the Honor to be My Lord [&c.]