Raven at Savannah 22d Jany 1776
Sir
I beg you will please to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that in consequence of Admiral Graves's order dated the 29th of last November, I sailed from Boston with directions to endeavour to land some dispatches for the Governors of Philadelphia, Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas and Georgia, but being repeatedly blown off the Coast by violent Gales of wind, I was only Able to fetch Charles Town bar, off which place I anchored on the 12th instant, where I found riding His Majesty's Ship Syren: after waiting on Captain [Tobias] Fumeaux, he advised me not to go into the Harbour with His Majestys Sloop under my Command, that Lord William Campbell had been forced to quit his Government and was on board the Cherokee Arm-Ship: upon ー this intelligence I declined going in, and proceeded in Company with the Syren, Tamer, and Cherokee which two last Ships we fell in with on our passage hither, and arrived here on the 16th where I am Stationed until further Orders.
Since my arrival at this Port, I have had no Open communication with this Colony or Town of Savannah, and from the intelligence which I have received, they are in open Rebellion against the King: that on the 18 instant the Govemour and Council were confined, but were again released on a promise that they would not leave the Town without permission.
I am sorry to acquaint their Lordships, that since my leaving Boston, the greatest part of the Ships Company have been very much affiicted with the Scurvey, (some of whom died of this distemper) but I am in hopes, that with the few refreshments I have already procured and the prospect of future supplies, I shall be able to restore them to their proper health.
I further beg you will please to acquaint their Lordships that I fell in with, and Seized a Ship belonging to Philadelphia with near Two Thousand Pounds on board in Money, which she brought from Lisbon; and on my arrival here I seized a Ship belonging to Rhode Island, laden with Lumber, an account of which Ships I have transmitted to the Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships at Boston. I am, Sir [&c.]
P.S. I herewith inclose the Georgia Gazette for their Lordships perusal in which the[y] will perceive in some measure what is going on in this Province, as well as the other parts of America.