The following letter was read and approved of:

Sir ー The seeming apostacy of Georgia, and the ingenuity of some of our associates, in finding out a law for a cloak to their transgressions, are subjects of real grief to us. 'Tis true, there is a resolution of the general committee, that an intercourse with Georgia should be opened, but that resolution was founded upon an assurance that Georgia had united with her sister colonies. Whenever, therefore, she had departed from that union, first by chicane and finesse, and at length openly and flagrantly acting in direct opposition to the resolves of the representative body of those colonies, by an exportation, flattering and beneficial to our enemies, disgraceful to us, and offensive in the highest degree to our friends, every true lover of liberty and his country should have determined to forgo his own interest, to take no advantage of a resolution, which, however, glaring the causes for repealing may appear to individuals, cannot be repealed, before the formality of proof has been complied with; in the mean time much evil may be done, and, according to your accounts, much has been done by men whose avarice has triumphed over patriotism.

We have in very strong terms expostulated with Georgia in answer to our letter. Their Council of Safety have sent two delegates to explain and account for their conduct. These gentlemen are now with us, but hitherto they have offered no satisfactory reasons. We shall probably insist upon a compliance with certain terms, which, if they refuse, a repeal of the resolution above mentioned will follow, but for the present it is necessary that we should, as far as may be, regulate the proceedings of our own people, and those in your quarter more especially; for this purpose, as we approve of the intimation in your letter of the 23d of posting a few men upon HiltonHead Island, we desire you will immediately order a proper detachment, under discreet officers, to take post there, and to bring to, and search all scooners, boats, and canows, suffering none to pass to Georgia with the produce of this colony, without a permit from some authorized committee, agreeable to the plain meaning of a resolution of the Continental Congress, the 1st November, a copy of which we shall here inclose, and send another copy to the committee for St. Helena. Your committee, and the committees northward of Beaufort, will grant no permits to any but persons who will give satisfactory security that their produce or commodities are not to be, and shall not be, exported contrary to the continental laws. This step, which is absolutely necessary, and which we think altogether consistent with those laws, we hope will check the evil complained of, and we are now coming to an ecclaircissement with our suspected sister. We shall in a few days, if she persists in attempts to ruin us, be obliged to speak in plain terms of resentment. There is no middle way, if she will not be a friend, an honest, faithful friend, she must be held to be an enemy.

By order of the Council of Safety.
Henry Laurens, President.

Col. [Stephen] Bull, per Muckinfus.

Mr. [Stephen] Drayton and Mr. [William] Ewen, the delegates from Georgia, delivered in writing, subscribed with their names, the case of exportation from Georgia, dated this day.

Charles-Town, Dec. 30th, 1775.

Sir ー We refer you to what we wrote yesterday, and sent off early this morning by the hand of Muckinfus, a special messenger. We have since resolved, that it is necessary, in ,order to restrain as much as in our power, the illicit trade carrying on the river Savannah, that the brigt. Beaufort, late Crawford, now Reid master, belonging to this colony, shall, if possible, be taken into possession by the Committee for St. Helena, and brought immediately to Beaufort. We are persuaded, that you have the real interest of America so much at heart, that you will do every thing in your power to accomplish so necessary a service. We, therefore, request that you will apply immediately to the committee and endeavour, with all possible dispatch and secrecy, to form and carry a plan for this purpose into execution. We apprehend that twenty volunteers will be sufficient, under a discreet active commander. we do not name Capt. [John] Joiner, because we have hopes of his engaging in the enterprize to Frederica, which we lately mentioned to you. We shall confirm any agreement which the committee may enter into for pay or reward to the officers and men who may engage in this service, and also indemnify them, under the authority of [Provincial] Congress, against all suits and prosecutions which may be hereafter attempted or brought on account of the seizure and removal of the said vessel. If this business is effected, orders should be given to take an exact inventory of such goods as may be found in the vessel, and great care should be taken to prevent damage and embezzlement.

By order of the Council of Safety.
Henry Laurens, President.

Colonel [Stephen] Bull

P.S. to the letter of Colonel Bull of this date:

We have received a message, by express, from the Committee at GeorgeTown, that on Christmas afternoon a fleet of eighteen vessels was seen sailing southerly ー five of them very large. The weather has been very boisterous and thick ever since; when it clears up, our apprehensions will be confirmed or removed ー in the mean time we are persevering in our preparations for defence.

Colonel Bull.

Read a letter from Capt. Edward Blake, of this date, relating to Mr. [Thorrias] Waring's boat ー and stores wanted for the Comet.

Ordered, That Capt. Blake be desired to purchase some other fit boat for the public service; and that the stores be not put on board the Comet until the Council of Safety are satisfied she has a proper number of men.

The Council issued an order for the payment of £1,000 to Capt. Simon Tufts, in part of an account of sundry expences for, and wages due, to the officers and men of the colony scooner Defence, to the 22nd instant.