[Extract]

At a Council held in the Council Chamber
at Pensacola on Monday the 2^d. March 1778

The Minutes of the last Council day (11^th. February) were read & approved.

His Excellency the Governor Acquainted the Board that he called them together in Consequence of some Accounts that he had just received from the River Mississippi purporting that a Party of the Rebels had come down the said River Seized on a Merchant Ship called the Rebecca John Cox Master¹ then laying at the Settlement of Manchack and had also taken Possession of the said Settlement making several of the Inhabitants Prisoners on the Parole—which Intelligence he thought proper to lay before them And as the advice of the Kings Military Servants might be necessary upon this Occassion he had requested William Garnier Esquire Captain of His Majestys Ship Southampton Lieutenant Colonel Stiell² Commanding officer of the Troops here and John Fergusson Esq^r Commander of the Sloop of War Sylph to assist at the Board who accordingly came into Council—whereupon M^r Thomas Walters Super Cargo of the said Ship Rebecca who had brought the Intelligence referred to having been Summoned to attend for that purpose was called before the Board and gave the following Information upon oath

Information upon oath of Thomas Walters late Super cargo of the Ship Rebecca taken at Pensacola before His Excellency Peter Chester Esquire Captain General and Governor in Chief of His Majestys Province of West Florida &C in Council

This Informant saith that on Monday the 23^d of February about Eleven oClock in the forenoon he arrived at Manchack from the River Amit³ & went into Hickeys Tavern Where he was told by said Hickey, by M^r Swanson, the Two M^r Monsantos and M^r Heckshaw that the Ship Rebecca Cap^n. Cox of which Ship this Informant was Super Cargo mounting Sixteen Carriage Guns (four Pounders and Six Swivels—Navigated by 25 Men) but had then only fifteen on Board and laying at the Levee opposite said Town was that morning about seven oClock Seized by a Party of Americans (Supposed to be between fifteen or Twenty in Number) Commanded by one M^cIntyre⁴ That upon this Intelligence and being fully Convinced that the ship was in their hands as he saw a Number of Strange Men Walking the Deck dressed in Hunters Froks He Consulted with M^r Hickey and M^r Swanson what was best to be done in this Emergency who advised him to make his immediate Escape as they were themselves all Prisoners upon Parole That he was in the same Company informed that Each of these Rebels was armed with a Rifle Gun a Cutlass and a Pair of Pistols—also that there were four hundred more Expected down every Minute Among whom was James Willing formerly an Inhabitant of this Province and further that Anthony Hutchins Esquire a Magistrate at the Natchez was brought down by them and put on Board the Ship in Irons That Mess^rs. Hiorn,⁵ Blommart⁶ & M^cIntosh⁷ all of the Natchez District were coming down as Prisoners with the other party And this Informant farther saith that he thought there was no time to be lost He made his Escape over the Garden Fence into the Cane Brake and thence to the River Amit from which place he arrived here last night and farther saith not.

Sworn in the Council Chamber at
Pensacola this 2^d day of March 1778—
before His Excellency in Council
Attest: Rich^d Combauld⁸ D. Cler. Concii.

William Burns Master of a Drogger who also arrived last night from the River Amit being then called before the Board gave such Information as fully Corroborated the above.

His Excellency then desired the opinion of the Board what measures were necessary to be adopted for the protection of the Province in Consequence of the Intelligence now before them

The Board after deliberating thereon recommended to His Excellency the Governor that application be made to William Garnier Esquire Captain of His Majestys Ship Southampton to order one of the Kings Ships under his Command to proceed to the River Mississippi in order to Intercept the ShipRebecca and the Captain of His Majestys Ship so ordered to receive on Board of him such Loyal Subjects with their properties as may apply for protection and also that Captain Garnier be requested to give such assistance to Lieutenant Burdon of the Armed Sloop West Florida in the Lake Pont-Chartrain as may enable him to secure the passes into the Lakes gain Intelligence of the Strength and designs of the Enemy and afford assistance & Protection to the loyal Inhabitants of the Western parts of the Colony Whereupon His Excellency Immediately wrote a Letter to Cap^n. Garnier making the above requisitions. . . .

The Bord were unanimously of opinion that an assembly should be called—but that the Writts of Election be delayed untill farther Intelligence is received respecting the operations of the Rebels in the Western part of this Province. . . .