Mr. President laid the following copies of letter's before the board, which he had written by their direction.

Charles-Town, Jan. 19th, 1776.

Gentlemen ー Capt. Crawford this morning delivered us your letter of the 12th, to which we have paid due regard.

The thirty pounds paid to the four New-England seamen for the reasons which you have assigned, we thirik was well applied.

We desire you will give us the earliest intelligence of the Tamar and Cherokee, supposed to be now at Cockspur, and of any other man-of-war or armed vessels belonging to the enemy: and you cannot be too much upon your guard against their procuring provision from some part of our coast and on the nQrth banks of Savannah ー against all illicit correspondence with them and against attempts to make an attack upon your town and plantations and for recovering the Brigantine William.

The whole coast should be alarmed, and every friend to American interest ought in an especial manner to exert himself.

Lord William Campbell may possibly visit a plantation on our side of the Savannah. In such a case, it would be well to conduct him with politeness and security to the seat of government which he ought not to have deserted, and all expences will be properly reimbursed.

By order of the Council of Safety.

Henry Laurens, President.

Committee at Beaufort.

Charles-Town, South Carolina
Jan. 19th, 1776.

Sir ー As we have been informed that seamen, arms, ammunition and vessels may be procured at Bermuda, and as you have been pleased to offer your service to this colony, we desire you will immediately proceed in the scooner Little Thomas to that island with such rice as Capt. [Edward] Blake has shipped on board her, an invoice of which he will put into your hands. Upon your arrival there, lose no time, but immediately endeavour to inlist for the service and defence of this colony, two hundred, or as many not exceeding that number as you can, able seamen, on the following terms ー bounty money ten pounds Carolina currency ー wages twenty-one pounds per Calendar month, and provisions, to commence the day of embarkation in a vessel at this port or to some of the inlets to the southward of this port which will be less exposed to the ravages of the enemy.

You will stipulate with the men whom you may inlist to serve till the 1st of March, 1777 ー liable to be sooner disbanded by the Congress or Council of Safety of this colony on receiving one month's additional pay, and that they are to be subject to similar rules and orders as well as intitled to the same share of prizes as seamen who are employed by the continent in sea service. If the men will receive rice in lieu of bountymoney, you may dispose of the rice in that way, otherwise lodge or dispose of it in such manner as Capt. Blake shall direct.

It will be no small encouragement to men to inlist in our service, to be informed, that the Provincial Congress have resolved, that provision shall be made for the support of such men as may be maimed or disabled and for the families of any who may be killed in the service of the colony.

You are to procure also at Bermuda any quantity you can of good gunpowder and salt-petre, and good muskets, good six and four-pound cannon, with shot, match, and all necessary appurtenances, swiveled guns and shot, swiveled bluderbusses, and good pistols, cutlasses and half-pikes or lances, musket, pistol and bluderbuss ball, hand-grenades, good flints and cartridge-paper. We refer you more particularly for the articles to a gentleman to whom Mr. Thos. Savage will write.

If you are so fortunate as to inlist more men than the Little Thomas can conveniently and safely accomodate, you are to purchase a proper vessel on account of this colony, appoint a master and mate, and man her with the men whom you shall have inlisted over and above the number in the scooner and give the master proper orders for proceeding as you are directed above, particularly to be careful not to fall into the hands of an enemy. Pay great attention to the goodness and reputation for fast sailing of any vessel which you may purchase, and no less to the price which we expect will be very moderate in these times ー and it will be no small consideration to the parties from whom you may purchase powder, arms, military stores and vessel, that we will, if required, pay in the produce of this colony and permit such produce in any vessel sent for that purpose to be shipped to a foreign market. And we desire you will acquaint all proper persons (not to be publickly advertised) that we will give a liberal price for good gunpowder and good muskets, with bayonets, and pay in produce with license to export.

If it shall happen that men will not inlist in our naval service at Bermuda, you are to call in your way hither at [New] Providence, and attempt to inlist men there; and if you fail there, purchase a cargo of salt, and return with all possible dispatch, and prefer entering any of our southern inlets to this harbour. Transmit intelligence to us immediately upon your arrival, and also from Bermuda, if you have opportunity.

If these instructions are not sufficiently clear for your guide, in particular cases which may occur, exercise your own discretion, and take the advice of the gentleman to whom Mr. Savage will write, and we shall be satisfied with your best endeavours for the service of the public. We shall likewise allow you a reasonable commission for your several transactions in the affairs now committed to your charge.

By order of the Council of Safety.

Henry Laurens, President.

Mr. Elisha Sawyer.

Resolved, That Mr. Paul Pritchard be ordered forthwith to proceed, with all his hands, to work upon the fortifications on Sullivan's Island; and, if he shall sustain any damage in consequence of his obedience to such order, that the same shall be considered.

Ordered, That Mr. Ferguson and Col. Parsons be added to the committee to con£ er with the field officers of the army and navy on a plan of defence for Charles-Town.