[Extract]
No 26.

My Lord; I am sorry to inform your Lordship that the Cumberland Packet Boat, which was dispatched the 9. of September, after out living a severe Storm at Sea, returned in about three weeks, in distress, and sunk in the Harbour. The amer[i]can male [sic] was sent by Captain [Thomas] Bishop of the Lively to New York. The Captain and Crew with the Guns that were on Board the Packet, are on Board the Betsey Ship Captain Lofthouse, who carries home our annual produce.

I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship that, at the Critical time, when an expedition was planned and commenced against this province, and when depredations were made by the Rebels as far as Saint John River, to secure that Barrier, and the Plantations and Provisions on that River, as there was not at that time any of the Kings Vessels of force in the province, I was, my Lord, under the absolutely [sic] necessity, of commissioning and employing the Sloop Rebeca Captain Mowbray for three Months certain to secure the inland water passage to Saint John River from Georgia.

There are numbers of fugitives from the Neighbouring Provinces, many of whom, without a little assistance have not where withal to support themselves; there are a number of Run away Negros from Georgia, whom I releived the Captains of the Navy of, to whom they fled for protection, and twenty eight Prisoners taken by Lord Dunmore, and sent here to be kept in custody; I have committed them to the Fort untill these unhappy differences terminate.

St Augustine ー 18 Octr 1776