[Extract]

the opportunity by which this is to be Sent is offered to me very Suddenly & unexpectedly by Capt [Alexander] Innes who assures me that my Letters Shall pass unopened ー I thank him for his politeness & friendship, but the Kings Decypherer must be very cunning if he is able to pick a plot out of any of my Epistles . . .

Some time ago we dreaded from the vast falls of Rain the total Loss of our Crops of Rice & indeed a few are totally lost, but in general from a favorable change they are now good & if no disaster happens in Earing or Harvest will be as large as usual, the Indian Corn is Still better, Wheat abundant, & Indigo very well, but what of all this, in a port Locked up & the Key in Lord North's pocket ー I never Saw Charles Town Harbour So naked as it is just now, only two Topsail Vessels in it except about five days ago when there was but one . . . You apprehend a bloody event to our disputes, there is now room to dread it more than ever, but I do not retreat as danger approaches, I only pray that God will enable me in every trial to do my Duty ー all will be well again my Son ー the people in England I mean the Ruling people are wrong ー they will be convinced of it ere long ー our Constitution admits of putting Such Rulers aside & restoring harmony without hurting that Constitution . . .