Cape Fear River 19th March 1776
No 25
We arrived here the 12th after a tedious Voyage hard Gales &c we met the Syren at Sea and by the accounts she gave us I did flatter myself that we should have found this Province armed in favor of Government; The attempt to arm tis true had been made, but what I dreaded, too much precipitated, the whole disaffected part of the Province was in arms to intercept them, as they were betrayed by the person sent by Govr Martin to assemble them, in short after a very trifling Action they were dispersed, one or two of their Leaders killed, and in general the rest taken, not above 1400 were assembled & of those not 800 armed, they got within 17 miles of Wilmington, and in attempting to force a Bridge they there received a check. I have not yet received Govr Martin's account of the whole Transaction, nor his opinion wheather affairs can, or by what means be restored. ー I did intend to have detained the Fincastle till I could give you information of the arrival of the Fleet from England, or inform you what was likely to be the operations of this early part of the Campaign, but the arrival of the Hinchinbroke from Savannah with news of some importance for you to be acquainted with, obliges Capt Montagu to dispatch her; to his Letters I must refer You for particulars; From Europe, report says, all breathed fire and faggot, 7 or 8 Frigates are coming out with Sir Peter [Parker], 7 Regts 3 Companies of Artillery &ca &ca I rejoice much to find that my friend Lord Cornwallis is with them, he sailed by all accounts the 31st deer from Portsmouth, we may fairly give them a fortnight to arrive at & sail from Cork, and therefore do not expect them here before the end of this month ー Commissioners are certainly to be appointed to receive the Submission of the seperate Provinces, but all this you will hear by your own dispatches which are probably contained in the Virginia Mail, from opening which I will not detain you longer than to assure you &ca
PS I am it seems to expect additional instructions by the Fleet ー I wish to communicate with you by the Cypher ー it will be un[inte]resiing how I am pressed ー too tedious, entre nous mais tres entre nous pouvons faire des belles choses ensemble ー I depend on hearing from you