Jan. 1778. At this time the men-of-war's boat's crews [Carrisford and Perseus]¹ were frequently in town, getting provisions and intelligence; we had so many tories then in town, that they could get good information from them, and so as to avoid our guards. Early this morning, 15th January, about 4 o'clock, A.M. a dreadful calamity happened in Charleston: a fire broke out in a back house or kitchen in Union-street, near Queen-street, the wind blowing fresh at N. and N.N.E. and raged with such fury as to baffle all efforts, and in a little time, it was communicated to the neighboring houses, and by the falling sparks of fire, houses in Broad, Elliott and Trad-streets, likewise took fire, and spread to the houses in Church-street, Bedon's-alley, and East-Bay, insomuch that n the Bay from Queen-street to Grenville's-Bastion at the sound-end thereof, only 5 or 6 houses escaped: About 6 o'clock that evening, the fire was in a great measure got under, after having consumed 252 dwelling houses, besides kitchens and back stores: A list of which, with their value as taken in the year 1776, viz:

*This is the currency of South-Carolina, five shillings to the dollar.

It was a very affecting scene to see the inhabitants running through the streets, looking for some place of shelter to put themselves and children in. We had strong suspicions, at the same time, that it was done by design: we had guards posted at every corner, and patroles going constantly through the streets the whole night. The next day was a sad spectacle, indeed! to behold the goods and property of different kinds, piled up in the streets in a promiscuous manner, and the proprietors harrassed out, and worn down with fatigue, stand to watch over their property, covered with blankets, and shivering with cold: and, to add more to their distress, it was so very cold, that the water which was thrown by the engines upon the tops of the houses to extinguish the fire, run down and hung in isicles along the eaves.

The soldiers, headed by officers, exerted themselves in an extraordinary manner, to assist in extinguishing the fire; and had the thanks of the inhabitants given them, through me, in general orders. Notwithstanding this great calamity, still we were alarmed every night with the cry of fire; it seemed as if they were determined that the town should be totally destroyed.

We had information that the men-of-wars boats were in town every night; and we had every reason to believe that they were the instigators of all the mischief that attended us.