Sir

Having been informed by a vessel that arrived here yesterday, that his Majesty's Troops in Garrison at St Augustine, as well as the inhabitants, are in Great want of Provisions; I have therefore lost no time in dispatching my Tender, commanded by Mr [Richard] Whitworth, with a Small Supply of Bread and Flour to you, and every thing besides that could be spared from the numerous Fleet we have here.² I hope it will arrive in time to be of use; but if you should have been supplied from any other quarter, I shall beg of you to return the Beef back to us. The other Articles we are tolerably well off in.

I take this op[p]ortunity to acquaint your Excellency, that Lord Dunmore and my self, with the Forces under our command, together with a numerous Fleet of Vessels, containing some of the late Inhabitants of Norfolk, evacuated that place the latter end of last Month, and have taken possession of this Island, which forms an excellent Harbour at the Mouth of Piankatank river in Cheseapeak bay and being centrical to all the Rivers, is a very proper rendezvous for His Majesty's Fleet.

We are much in want of small Cannon, from Nine pounders to three Pounders, and have not a Single Howitzer or Cohorn. If there should be any at St Augustine that can be spared, we shall be much obliged to you for them. I say nothing to you about Troops, more than to lament our having so very few here at this Juncture. Had we the remaining part of the 14th Regiment, I think it would not be in the power of the enemy to dispossess us: but circumstanced as we are, our situation is by no means secure; however, we have always the resource of our Ships to retire to, and can move when we find it necessary without much difficulty. I have the honor to be Sir [&c.]

PS. I must beg of you to dispatch my Sloop back to me as soon as possible.