Sir

Inclosed is a list of the names of sundry persons residents of this County, who has apply'd to me for a flag to go on Board of the British Ships to make enquiry after a Number of Slaves, which has absented themselves from their Masters service, and its believed have gone on board the Shiping while at Tanjeer Sound¹ but as I do not consider my at Liberty to comply with their Request without your Excellency's permission, they have requested me to write to you on the subject; I am personally acquainted with the several Gentlemen, and can inform you that their attachm^t to their Country's cause is not to be doubted. — in case they should procure a Flag and it should have the desired effect of recovering their slaves, it would in all probabillity discorage others from going to the Enimy, as I am apprehensive they will have frequent Oppertunities.— the Shiping which lay in the sound, have gone down the Bay, but we have the greatest reason to expect them up dayly, as they have for some time past, as soon as One went down Others returned.— I am apprehensive that it will be very difficult to prevent the Inhabitants in some parts of this County from tradeing with the Enimy while the Water Craft are continued on the different Rivers in this County.—agreeable to the directions of the Supplementary Act to the Militia Law, the field Officers has held a Court Martial for the Tryal of such persons as refused to give their Attendance when the Respective Classes to which they belonged were Ordered on duty.—We have apply'd to the Court to issue execution against the delinquents for the recovery of the fines, who refused to do it for as much as they are of Opinion that they are not invested with any such Power 

I request the favour of you to advise me how we shall proceed in this business, if the fines is not speedily recovered, our Militia will be useless.—² I have the Honour to be [&c.]