Sir,

When cruising off the harbour of Charles Town I have observed several large french ships, & one Polacre therein—and by information received from prisoners, & by other means, a numerous fleet of french and american vessels, designed for different Ports in France & Holland, & laden with the produce of Carolina, are to push out when opportunity may offer—it is impossible to assure that they shall not escape the Kings ships on this station and therefore necessary to give you this intelligence—I have reason to think that those going to France, are for the Ports of Bourdeaux—Nantes—Rochelle—

Cha^s. Town was sett on fire
on y^e. 15 Jan^y. ab^t. 20 minutes
after 4 in y^e. morning—it burnt with
tolerable effect. upwards of
700 houses being destroyed.