Duplicate
N^o. 13.
My Lord,

I am particularly fortunate that the Sentiments expressed in my Dispatch N^o. 10. are conformable to what your Lordship has declared and recommended in your Letters.—

I have taken the Liberty to enclose Copies of what I wrote to Lord and Sir William Howe,¹ on the Subject of your Lordship's circular Letter of the 3^d. of October, and the List of Vessels which had been then commissioned as Letters of Marque.

The Assembly, from a confidence in me, have put their Publick works, and particularly the Forts and Fortifications, under my immediate inspection, upon which business my attention is now much employed; anxious also to infuse a Spirit of Emulation into our wretched Militia, I have, for that end accepted the command of the Regiment in my own Parish, and intend to provide them with uniforms Arms &c^a. but a general reformation must arise legislatively. The absurdity of the Laws of this Island relative to the Free Negroes and Mulattoes render that Set of People a Nuisance, who by our Neighbours are greatly depended on as their first good and Security.

I shall be unwearied till I can, in some degree, rectify this great Evil. In these times a manifestation of our wants and wishes would, even if not ill timed, be teazing and importunate; when our present Enemies shall be subdued, I know that, in future, from the reason of things, an acquiescence of the Mother Country supported by a well regulated Militia, and a proper Disposition of the Free Mulattoes and Negroes will ascertain a Safety to the Island never yet in being.

I am solicitous to get every kind of Intelligence, and shall be particularly careful in not transmitting any but that which may be depended upon; nor shall any Expence be wanting, to obtain it.

A Copy of a Letter from M^r. Burt I have the Honor to transmit to your Lordship,² as to the Ships of Seventy four and fifty four Guns; none of such force are in these Seas, Frigates only have been interfered with by our Cruisers, and their Number now at S^t. Domingo about eleven. I flatter myself the French mean nothing hostile; but take the Liberty to observe that in case of a Rupture they will have that force ready for Action in these parts, which they would find it very difficult to
send out after a declaration of War; Line of Battle Ships can easily follow. Forgive me, my Lord, for this conception.

I have the honor to be [&c.]

P.S.

I have the Honor to enclose to your Lordship a piece of Intelligence which,³ since writing the above has this night been transmitted to me by a Gentleman who makes it his Business to scrutinize into all Reports coming from our neighbouring, Island,⁴ and who, searching after the Author took it down from his own Mouth.

John Dalling