(N^o. 52.)
My Lord

I have received accounts by the Packet Boat, which lately arrived here, that the Grenville Packet had an Engagement with a Rebel Privateer to windward of Barbadoes, in which the Mail She brought from England, I suppose in the beginning of January last, was shot away—¹ By this accident I am deprived of receiving any directions or information from Your Lordship. 

Since my last Dispatch (N^o 51.) of the 14^th: Ultimo, I have received a Letter from Capt^n. Nunn of His Maj^ys Sloop of war Hound, advising me of his arrival off New Orleans, and transmitting Copies of the Correspondence which has lately passed between Captⁿ Fergusson of His Majesty's Sloop of War Sylph, and the Governor of Louisiana—on the Subject of his having afforded protection and assistance to the Rebels (as mentioned in my last Letter) also Copies of Captⁿ Fergusson's Letter to the Loyal British Subjects in New Orleans with their Answers, and the Copy of their Address to Me, the whole of which together with the Translation of a Letter from Governor Galvez to Me and the Minutes of the Council on the 25^th, & 27^th Ultimo Containing the Measures which have been adopted in Consequence thereof I have now the honor to inclose for Your Lordships perusal.²

These Papers sufficiently Evince the active part, which the Spanish Governor³ is taking in favour of the Rebels, notwithstanding he affects to behave with a strict Neutrality.—He has, it is true, published a Proclamation prohibiting any Persons within his Government, to Sell or furnish the Rebels with Arms Ammunition &c. Yet, they are actually Supplied at New Orleans with whatever they want, and a considerable quantity of Ammunition & Cloathing has already gone up the Mississippi—for Fort Pitt in Pennsylvania. They are also suffered to make Expeditions from Orleans across the Lakes, & to destroy Our settlements and to lay off the Mouth of the River Mississippi & make prize of any British Vessels coming into that River—This Extraordinary Conduct is no doubt a flagrant breach of that good Faith which Should Subsist between two Provinces, whose Sovereigns are in perfect amity with each other—and I wish it was in my power not only to prevent the evil in future, but also to Shew a proper resentment for such daring insults—The most Spirited Remonstrances to the Governor of Louisiana, are, treated with contempt, and the only Effectual Method, to redress our injuries, after all other means have been tried, would be to make Reprizals, and detain Spanish property untill ample restitution was made—but my Instructions do not authorize, on the Contrary they restrain me from taking Such a measure, which might be highly impolitic & prejudicial to the publick interest of the State—⁴

Your Lordship will observe how strongly Capt^n. Nunn in his Letter to me, recommends the sending a Sufficient military force, from hence for the protection of the western parts of the Province, in order to give such of His Majesty's Loyal Subjects as had taken refuge in Louisiana, an Opportunity of returning to their Plantations—and withdrawing themselves from the Spanish Territories, where they have been compelled to take an Oath very Similar to an Oath of Allegiance to Spain—The Gentlemen of the Council(before whom I laid all the above mentioned papers)recommended that a Post should be Established at Manchack, and that it should be left to Lieutenant Colonel Stiell's discretion to send what Number of Men he thought could now be spared from the necessary duty of this Garrison, who agreed to detach, One Captain one Lieutenant one Ensign three Serjeants One Drum and fifty Rank & file, who in their way thro' the Lakes will call on board the Armed Sloop West Florida, and take with them the Detachment onboard the said Sloop. which in the whole will make a body of Seventy five Men–⁵ These will proceed in vessels I have been obliged to hire for the purpose with 25 of Colonel Stuart's Rangers⁶ thro' the Lakes PontChartrain & Maurepas, to take Post at Manchack, where they will be joined with upwards of Forty Men now onboard His Majesty's sloop Sylph—raised in the Mississippi for Colonel Stuart's Corps—and such Recruits as can be got in that River for Capt^n. Miller's Independant Company—⁷

I have also to facilitate the Troops in Establishing this Post, ordered Lieu^t. Colonel M^cGillivray of the Provincials now at Natches, to detach One hundred of his Corps with proper Officers to Manchack & to throw up Some works for their defence, and prepare for the Reception of the Troops, who will Cover themselves by a Stockaded Fort—⁸ I have also applyed to Captⁿ Nunn, by the advice of the Council to Send one of the Sloops of war, under his Command—up the Mississippi to Manchack—in order to cooperate with the Provincials in establish^g the Post. 

In my last letter, I mentioned that it was not thought adviseable to detach any Troops from the Strength of this Garrison, Since which Colonel Stuart, has entertained a better opinion of the Attachment of both the Creeks & Chactaws, and it being thought impracticable to Establish this Post at Manchack without a few Regulars, there appeared to be no alternative, but Either to adopt the Measure, or abandon the whole western parts of the Province to the possession of the Rebels, & leave His Majesty's loyal Subjects, who had fled into Louisiana to become subjects of Spain—Should the Rebels come down the Mississippi in great force, care must be taken to obtain early and certain intelligence of their approach, and as Vessels will be left in the River Ibberville the Detachment can be brought off by that Communication thro' the Lakes—Should however His Majesty's Subjects in the Spanish Dominions, neglect to Embrace the Opportunity now offered them of returning to their Plantations under protection & Continue in Louisiana, the Post of Manchack will be withdrawn, and the Troops Sent to the Natchez for the Security of the Loyal Inhabitants of that District—

Lieutenant Colonel M^c.Gillivray has been joined by most of the white People in the Chactaw Nation, and a Considerable Body of Indians Who by this time I Suppose are all arrived at the Natches—where the Inhabitants have behaved very well, and upon promise of Support, have broke their Engagement of Neutrality—and formed themselves into parties to oppose the Rebels and I have the satisfaction to acquaint Your Lordship, that a party of the Inhabitants with Capt^n. M^cIntosh, of Lieu^t: Colonel M^cGillivray's Corps, having received information of a body of Rebels coming up the Mississippi from New Orleans to take possession of the Natches District, posted themselves at the White Clifts about five Leagues below Natches, where they attacked a Rebel boat—killed their Captain, one Harrisson—a Lieutenant & three Men, and took twenty Eight Prisoners—⁹ These People behaved with great spirit & bravery, particularly Captⁿ M^cIntosh and Charles Percy Esquire, who was formerly an Officer in the King's Army—whom I have appointed to an Additional Company in Lieut^t: Colonel M^c.Gillivray's Corps—I have also given another additional Company to Thaddeus Lyman Esquire, for his good behaviour in Exerting himself in forming the Inhabitants into Associations—and I trust that District will not be longer under any apprehensions from the Rebels which are below them on the Mississippi—and should the Rebels come down the River, in large Bodies, as is reported. These People with the assistance of the Indians will annoy them greatly—and I am of Opinion if good Posts are kept up at Manchack and Natches with the Assistance of Armed Vessels properly Constructed to carry from ten, to twelve Guns each, with 50, or 60 hands, stationed in such Manner as may be thought most advisable; that Our force upon the Mississippi, would be sufficient to secure the Colony, from any attempts of the Rebels, and afford full protection to the Inhabitants—The Post now to be Established at Manchack, will no doubt prevent any of the Rebel Boats from passing up the River Mississippi, with Supplies of Ammunition Cloathing &c. but at the same time, I think the Spaniards will give them every assistance, and be the Carriers of these Supplies, under pretence that they are designed for their own Indian trade, unless Some precise Orders can be given to the Commanding Officer of this Post, what conduct to pursue in respect to Spanish Boats—and whether to search, and on suspicion detain them—untill the property is ascertained—but this is so Critical a Circumstance—that I shall not give any Orders on this head—but wait for instructions thereupon from your Lordship¹⁰

Your Lordship will Observe that Capt^n. Nunn mentions in his Letter to Me, that Goods lately introduced into New Orleans by British Merchants have been purchased by the Spanish Commissary for Indian Affairs—Expressly for the purpose of Gaining over the Indian Nations to their Interests—and I cannot omit Observing that the Governor of Louisiana is using every means in his power, to persuade the Chactaw Nation of Indians to renounce their Obedience to His Majesty, and for that purpose, invites them to New Orleans—loads them with Presents, and endeavours to prevail upon them, not to take any part against the Rebels—but to remain neuter—which has occasioned frequent dissentions among the Savages—Such a Conduct is highly unjustifiable-and if persevered in, may have a tendency to alienate their Affections from His Majesty's Government 

We have been for many years without an Assembly in this Colony—and it is thought that the present Situation of the Province requires their meeting—in order to frame a Militia, and such other Salutary Laws as are wanting—and I have accordingly with the advice of the Council ordered, Writs of Election to be issued, which are returnable on the Sixth of June next—¹¹

I shall Continue to Exert myself in pursuing such measures, as may be Conducive to His Majesty's Service and for the benefit of the Province under My Command—I have the honor to be [&c.]

Postscript. 10^th: May 1778—

Since writing of the preeceding, both of His Majesty's Sloops of war Hound & Sylph have returned from the River Mississippi, all Communication having been prevented by the Spanish Governor, between the King's Ships—and the British Subjects on Shore—

Capt^n. Nunn has furnished me—with some farther Correspondence that has passed between the Governor of Louisiana—and himself Copies of which are now inclosed to Your Lordship.¹²

The Sylph will Shortly return to the River Mississippi, & proceed up to Manchack—to cooperate with the Troops in Establishing that Post, which if Continued will require a Commissary of Stores and Provisions—and in that Case—I beg leave to recommend M^r William Williams for the appointment, he having acted as Deputy in that Department for many years at this place—The Rebels in Louisiana are daily Deserting, and they are now reduced to a very small Number—I hope that the Measures which have been adopted here, will secure this Colony in future from being infested by any of these plunderers and Banditti. 

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