Having received Intelligence from His Excellency Governor Tonyn and Lieut Grant of His Majesty's Schooner St John, by the Duke of Cumberland Packet which arrived here yesterday from St Augustine,

The Governor and Lieut sets forth in their Letters that several Armed Ships and Vessels with a number of Armed men, said from Philadelphia had landed on the Island of Providence and had taken possession of Fort Montague without any opposition, and that the Rebels had declared they came there to carry away the Powder and Military Stores belonging to His Majesty and likewise to destroy the St John Schooner.ー

I therefore thought it necessary to summons all the Captains of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels now here, and requested the assistance of Sr James Wright Governor of this Province & likewise Majors Grant & Maitland the Commanding Officers of the Kings Troops now here, to whom I communicated the above Intelligence, and desireing their Opinions whither it may be advisable to leave this Port and go in quest of the above Rebel Vessels and Forces.

When on mature deliberation it was the unanimous opinion of all present that the preservation of this Port together with the Ships and Provisions that has been taken and seized, and likewise giving protection to the Governor of this Province and to such of the Friends of Government, who have been under the necessity of leaving Savanah and taking refuge here, and also of giving Convoy to the Transports now loading with Provisions for the Troops at Boston, which is a very material and Important object for His Majesty's Service.

Therefore we cannot by any means Advise leaving this Port to go in quest of the Rebels Ships abovementioned which by the Information we have, in all probability have quitted Providence by this time.

And we are of Opinion when a Convoy is order'd for the Transports the rest of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels will be too few to divide, but that they ought to keep together and remain here for the purpose abovementioned, Especially as some accounts have been received that the above Rebel Armament have intentions to come here and Attack the Kings Ships and take possession of this Harbour, by which event they would get in their possession the Vesselsels loaded with provisions & other Valuable Cargoes which is now under our protection.ー

And we are unanimously of Opinion that this Intelligence together with the Copies of these Minutes shou'd be immediately Communicated to Sir Peter Parker who is supposed to be by this time arrived at Cape Fear with a large Force.ー

And as the Ships rescued from the Savanah are a Valuable property exclusive of their Cargoes, there is every reason to believe from the Violence of the people in burning the Ships in the Harbour, that on the Kings Ships leaving Cockspur, the Inhabitants wou'd come down in boats and destroy such of the Vessels as cou'd not be brought back to Town and Force the Seamen aboard their Privateers.ー