. . . A Scouting Party sent by the General¹ to Wrights landing at the mouth of S^t. Marys to learn if the Galleys² were there & derive some intelligence of the Enemy's Motions, is Returned & Reports that the Galleys are laying at Wrights landing, with Two flats each Mounting a 12 pounder, & several small Craft to the Amount of 12 Sail in all.—The Sick have recovered surprisingly there being now but 28 ill & none of them dangerously in the whole fleet—the Sick sent to Sappalo & S^t Catharines are also doing better. 

The Commodore³ is to make use of a few Manæuvres to decieve the Enemy into an Opinion that the Army will Cross S^t. Marys at Wrights landing: He is therefore to light large fires in the night in the Woods & in a few days is to move up the River S^t. Marys about 5 Miles with all the Parade of Landing Troops & commense a Cannonade under which fire the Army is supposed to land: Whilst the enemy are thus Amused the Troops will embark on rafts & cross the River 10 or 12 Miles from hence. By Prisoners Our Scout Boats have taken We learn that General Prevost & Governor Tonyn are at Variance—that 500 Negroes have been shipped off the Province of Florida since they have heard of the Present Expedition, & that the Governor has issued a Proclamation any more Slaves to be sent off away. That the Governor had wrote to the Country People & advised them to Embody, but that they had refused to do it, but had nevertheless promised him all assistance with their Horses, Waggons, Provisions & Boats.—that on the former claim when the Vessels were taken at Frederica Col¹ Brown⁴ evacuated Fort Tonyn & that it was believed he would do the same at present—That the Scopholites⁵ who were Stationed at Trout Creek⁶ had been very discontented & that some of them had Threatened to Return to Carolina & throw themselves upon the Mercy of their Country: that they were reconciled again & that Major Prevost was with drilling & Exercising them; & that they were enlisted for the War in the British Service. That a Vessel which was cut down in S^t. Augustine to Serve as a Galley was arrived in S^t. Johns River—⁷ that they had fortified Hester's bluff & mounted Two 42 Pounders there—that the Cow Ford was also defended by Works & that they had resolved not to engage Us on the Northern Side of S^t. Johns River.⁸ That the Militia at Present did Duty in Augustine & that they did not Consist of fifty Effectives.—That the Americans had many Friends in Florida who had not moved their Furniture or Negroes.—The Commodore Reports that there Are but 70 or 80 barrels of Clean Rice & 50 barrels of Pork in the fleet for the service of the Army—that the Rebecca Prize Sloop⁹ was expected daily laden with Rice & mounting 16 Guns & that 150 barrels of Pork would arrive in a day or two from Charles-Town—the Galleys are to go by Sea, the delay which would be Occasioned by cutting a Channel thro Amelia Narrows would be detrimental to Service when the most Sudden & Vigorous Exertions are Required,—

To Excite the suspicions of the Enemy respecting our Embarking at Wrights landing to Cross the River, Col^l: White¹⁰ with so many Continental Troops as can be spared from the fleet will land, mark out a few Works & lay down an encampment on the Florida Shore——Intermitting Showers 

Intelligence is Rec^d that Gen: Scriven¹¹ is on his March & that he may be Expected here to Day or tomorrow

The Governor is yet at Reids bluff.¹²