[Extract]

We are making great Preparations here, in Case of a Visit in the Winter. If Howe shou'd be beat at N. York, I suppose he & his Myrmidons will either go to Virginia, or come here. I hope we [are] invincible to any thing that will come agst usー

We have some Thoughts of Sending a Couple of Thousand Men, to ravage E. Florida, & cut off the Communication between Augustine & the Country.

You see how this Province has exerted itself, altho' we have had some inimical Villains amongst us, we have taken such Steps we keep them in Good Order.

Independence is declared throughout the 13 united States of America. I suppose it will not be long before you see the Declaration of the Congress, as there are Vessells fitting out to trade with foreign Nations, and I imagine before now Ambassaders are sent to treat of Foreign alliances ー All the Troops both foreign & domestic that Great Britain can send will [not] be able to hurt America. She bids degenerate Britain Defiance.

P.S. When Administration gets an Acct of the Action of Sullivan's Island; they will be devilishly at a Loss, how to dress it up for the Public. The Day after it, the Rainbow Sloop of War was sent to Great Britain with the Accts ー² Be assured they had near 300 kill'd & wounded in the Action, we took 50 highlanders, & have had abt 50 Deserters, from the Navy & Army, who say that if the Army had been encamp'd on the Main One half at least wou'd have deserted, hut it was as difficult for them to make their Escape, as it was for the Seamen.ー

The Deserters from the Navy have brought us up several fine Barges ー And the whole Fleet & army have been gone ab[ou]t two or three Weeks ー With every Lye the Ministry & their Tools can invent upon this Occasion, it must make greatly against them.

We have sent one of our arm'd Vessell's of Eighteen Guns yesterday, to cruise off Augustine, in Hopes of falling in wth two Ships expected from London there, wth Military Stores and dry Goods...