SIR JAMES WRIGHT TO ADMIRAL GRAVES.

Savannah, in Georgia, June 27, 1775.

SIR: Some time ago I had the honour to receive a letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, dated the 1st of February last, wherein he wrote me that an order was gone from the Admiralty to you, Sir, to send me one of your cruisers, but none is yet arrived, nor have I heard any thing of it since. And I am now to acquaint you, that four or five boats, from the South-Carolina side of our inlet, have been here for ten or twelve days past, full of armed men—it is said near one hundred. We expect a vessel from London every day, with a considerable quantity of gunpowder on board; and report says that these people mean to take it out and carry it away; and it is not in my power to prevent it. And thus you see, Sir, that our port may, and in short is, blocked up by our neighbours, and that they have it in their power to plunder any thing that arrives here, and do just what they please. I hope, therefore, that you will be kind enough to give such immediate assistance as may be in your power, to prevent such insults and attempts as I have mentioned.

Pardon me, Sir, for saying that an armed schooner will be of little use; or any thing less than a sloop-of-war of some force, and which, from Lord Dartmouth’s letter, I have been long expecting, and impatiently looking out for.

I doubt not but the situation we are in will strike you in such a light, that you will see the propriety of immediate assistance.

Another matter seems to be also necessary for His Majesty’s service, viz: frequent accounts from yourself and General Gage, with respect to the state of affairs your way, as I find it has the greatest influence on the conduct and proceedings of the people here; and I have no way by which this can be done, unless you are pleased to send it by some of his Majesty’s vessels under your command.

I have the honour to be, with perfect esteem, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

JAMES WRIGHT.*

Admiral Graves.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CHARLESTOWN, SOUTH-CAROLINA, DATED JUNE 27, 1775.

We enclose you extracts of letters from Georgia and Augusta, by which you may judge of our present state relative to Indian affairs. It seems that General Gage has corresponded with the Superintendent here on that subject, and he with his Deputy in the Cherokee Nation. Mr. Stuart, finding the matter suspected, left Charlestown, and went to Georgia about the time of the sitting of the Congress. Matters taking a turn in Georgia, he found himself obliged to produce his letters, since which he has escaped to Florida, and thereby confirmed the suspicion of an intended Indian war. The other extract shows you the present state of the Indian Nation.

Extract of a Letter from John Wilson, of Augusta, to
Messrs. Campbell and Son, dated June 15, 1775.

All the Cherokee traders have come down but two, and have the pleasure to inform you that they have overpaid their full cargoes. There is at present but very indifferent talk in that Nation. They have lately killed two Virginians that had gone up there express, which I am afraid will be the cause of war. Should that be the case, I shall be badly off, having little powder in the fort. I am informed that one of our traders was stopped by the Indians, in order to bring a talk down.

Extract of a Letter from John Stuart to Mr. Cameron.

I have received information from General Gage, that certain persons at the Northward have been tampering with the Six Nations, and endeavouring to alienate their affections from His Majesty. I mention this to caution you against any thing of the kind with you, and that you will use your influence to dispose those people to act in defence of His Majesty and Government, if found necessary.

Mr. Cameron’s Answer.

That Mr. Stuart’s interest with the Indians was much greater, and that he was more beloved, by them than any other man; and that he (Cameron) had the vanity to think that he could head any number he thought proper, whenever called upon in support of His Majesty and Government.

Cameron is Stuart’s principal Deputy.

ACCOMACK COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Accomack County, at the Court-House, the 27th of June, 1775:

SOUTHEY SIMPSON, Esquire, in the Chair.

A complaint having been made, that James Arbuckle, a member of this Committee, had drawn a Map of the Eastern Shore, and that the sea-coast was delineated therein, so as to furnish information to vessels to explore our harbours; and that the same had been delivered to his Excellency the Governour for that purpose:

The said Arbuckle appeared voluntarily before the Committee, and acknowledged that he had drawn a draught or Map of the internal part of the Eastern Shore, but denied that he had illustrated any of the harbours, or marked any of the soundings or shoals; which he had delivered to Mr. Andrew Sprowle, of Gosport.

Sundry witnesses were then called in, and duly sworn, and by their testimony it appeared that the said Arbuckle had shown the said Map publickly to many of the inhabitants of this County, before he parted with it; that he had drawn the same at the request of the Custom-House Officers, and, so far as relates to this County, from an old draught which he had made some years ago; and that the use the said officers told him they designed to make of it, was to excuse themselves to his Excellency the Governour from a suspicion of neglect in office. And it also appeared that there were none of the harbours laid down with such exactness as to give any new insight to any persons to come into them; and it appeared that the Governour is in possession of the said Map. And it appearing farther, that the said James Arbuckle has, as well heretofore as before this Committee, expressed great uneasiness that he should have been so imprudent as to have done any thing to alarm his Country at this time :

Resolved unanimously, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the said James Arbuckle is not intentionally guilty of any offence against American liberty.

A complaint having also been made against John Sherlock, of this County, that he has expressed himself in such manner as to prove him an enemy to the liberties of this Country; and he being called upon to attend the Committee this day, refused, but wrote them an abusive and insulting letter.

Several witnesses were then called upon and sworn, and by their evidence, it appeared that he had,.at sundry different conversations, declared, in substance, “that such

* The above letter was withdrawn from the envelope, and the following was substituted in its place by the Secret Committee in Charlestown, and forwarded:

SAVANNAH, IN GEORGIA, June 27, 1775.—SIR: Some time ago I had the honour to receive a letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, dated the 1st February last, wherein he wrote to me that an order was gone from the Admiralty to you, Sir, to send me one of your cruisers. It gives me the highest pleasure to acquaint you that I now have not any occasion for any vessel of war; and I am clearly of opinion that His Majesty’s service will be better promoted by the absence than the presence of vessels of war in this port. On this subject of military forces being at present sent to this part of the Continent, I have written fully to the General, and I beg leave to refer you, Sir, to that letter, which is of equal date with this.

As I am persuaded it will be for the benefit of the service, that the Southern Governours should have early information of important transactions in your part of the Continent, I doubt not but that if you, Sir, shall be of the same opinion, you will send such by some advice boat. And if such vessel proceeds to Charlestown, my packet may there be sent on shore, and it will reach me by a secure land conveyance by express from the Post-Office.

Perhaps Captain Tollemache may give you, Sir, some little alarm about two or three canoes from South-Carolina, in this river, waiting, as report says, to take some gunpowder from on board a vessel daily expected to arrive here, But I acquaint you, Sir, that they are sent upon a smuggling party of goods into their own Colony, by private directions of their Committee. They mean to procure some gunpowder, and I shall not be displeased if, under the appearance of some violence, they purchase such an article, as it is intended to make good the contract made by Mr. Stuart and myself with the Indians, both Creeks and Cherokees, the latter of whom will be more convenient for the Carolinians than the people of Georgia to supply. I have the honour to be, with perfect esteem, Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,

JAMES WRIGHT.

Admiral Graves.

A fac-simile signature of James Wright was affixed to this letter by the Secret Committee.—Drayton.