[Bermuda] August the 17 ー 1775
NO. 22
My Lord In the night of the 14th. Instant August, when almost a Sufficient Number of Members of Assembly to make an House were come to Town Agreeable to Adjournment, I had less Suspicion than before, that such a daring and violent Attempt would be made on the Powder Magazine. which in the dead of the night of the 14th of Aupst was broke into on Top, just to let a man down, and the Doors most Audaciously and daringly forced open, at the great risk of their being blown up; they could not force the Powder Room Door, without getting into the inside on Top They Stole and Carried off about one Hundred Barrels of Gun powder, and as they left about ten or twelve Barrels, it may be Supposed that those Barrels left, would not bare remooving. It must have taken a Considerable number of People; and we may Suppose some Negroes, to assist as well as White Persons of consequence On Wednesday the 16 Instant (of August,) the Legislative Body, Voted one Hundred pounds Sterling Reward, to any Person or Persons, that shall make any discovery, and legally convict any of the perpetrators of this Audacious peice of Villany.
And I have offered His Majesteys most gracious pardon to any One Person, that shall make any Discovery of any Person or Persons so that they be legally Convicted of this most heinous Crime, and a further Reward of thirty pounds out of my own purse, All which was immediately offered by Proclamation.
And likewise thirty Dollars, or ten pounds Currency, I have offered to be paid to any Negro, or Negroes, to inform against any other Negro or Negroes, that were aiding and assisting so that they be legally Convicted.
The next morning the 15th Instant, (of August) one Sloop Called the Lady Catharine, belonging by Her Register to Virginia, George Ord Master, bound to Philadelphia, was seen under Sail, but the Custom House Boat could not over take Her.
And likewise a Skooner Called the Charles Town and Savannah Packet, belonging to South Carolina, from South Carolina Cleared out at Bermuda the 11th of August with 2,000 Sawed Stones for Barbados John Turner Master. And was seen under Sail the same day, at such a Distance off, that the Custom House Boat could not over take either of the Vessels.
It may be supposed that neither of the vessels came near the Shore, to take in the Powder, if they did carry it away, but it is rather to be imagined that it must have. been Carried out by Several Boats, as both these Vessels, Sailed from a Harbour at the West End, twenty Miles off, of the Magazine. I shall despatch these by the very first Conveyance I can get, which will be extreemly difficult as the minds of the People are very much poisoned, Since they Chose Delegates, and some People from Carolina, and Philadelphia, have Corresponded and visited these Islands.
I have the Honor to be My Lord [&c.]
P S I hope some of His Majestys Sloops of War will arrive soon, I shall contrive all ways and means, to Convey intelligence to them, of my Dismal Situation, as I have given hints to Your Lordship before, if all the Letters have not been intercepted. Your Lordship will receive Some by the little Porgy Allen Kirkpatrick Master.