We shall be glad to hear that you have established peace and quietness on our backs, and of your outset for Charles-town, as soon as possible after, as you please.

By order of the Council:

HENRY LAURENS, President.

The Honourable William Henry Drayton, Esq., Head-Quarters, Ninety-Six.

WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON TO ROBERT CUNNINGHAM.

Ninety-Six, September 21, 1775.

SIR: My only intention in coming into the Country was to promote peace, and to ascertain whether there were any people possessed of a disposition to run counter to and to oppose the efforts of America, and to lift their arms against their Country, their old acquaintances, and their friends and relations, in order to assist British Troops, if any should arrive here. It was therefore with the highest pleasure that on the 16th inst., I, together with Colonel Fletchall and other gentlemen, signed an instrument of writing, fully clearing up all the particulars abovementioned. As I cherish the best opinion of the honour of Colonel Fletchall and the gentlemen who signed after him, so I persuade myself they will do all in their power to execute what they have contracted, as I shall do on my part. But it was with concern that I have heard that you do not hold yourself as included in the above instrument of writing, and that you will not be bound by it. I am sincerely inclined to believe that these are not your sentiments. I do most heartily wish that it will turn out the information is erroneous. I therefore, Sir, entreat that you will as soon as may be favour me with an answer to this letter, assuring me that you hold yourself as included in the above instrument of writing. Such a conduct in you would give me particular pleasure. But that I may be under no mistake, I am sorry to be under a necessity of saying, that unless I shall be favoured by you as above, common sense will dictate to me that you do not hold yourself as included in the above instrument of writing.

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON.

To Robert Cunningham, Esq.

P. S. Mr. James Williams will convey to me any letter you may think proper to favour me with.

CAPT. ROBERT CUNNINGHAM TO WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON.

Page’s Creek, October 6, 1775.

SIR: This day I received your letter, dated the 21st of last month, desiring to know whether I considered myself as bound by the peace you made with Colonel Fletchall and the other gentlemen from our camp. I think, Sir, at this time the question is rather unfair; however, as it always was my determination not to deceive either party, I must confess I do not hold with that peace. At the same time, as fond of peace as any man; but upon honourable terms. But, according to my principles, that peace is false and disgraceful, from beginning to ending. It appears to me, Sir, you had all the bargain-making to yourself; and if that was the case, I expected you would have acted with more honour than taking the advantage of men (as I believe) half scared out of their senses, at the sight of liberty caps and sound of cannon, as seeing and hearing has generally more influence on some men than reason.

I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

ROBERT CUNNINGHAM.

The Honourable William Henry Drayton, Esq., per Mr. James Williams.

BRITISH FLEET AT NORFOLK.

Williamsburgh, September 21, 1775.

MR. PINKNEY: We are highly pleased with the conduct of the people of South-Carolina, who have taken the Troops destined for Virginia from St. Augustine, and think ourselves the more obliged to those brave Carolinians, as those Troops were to have been a re-enforcement to the sixty men who have been so very formidable to the Towns of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Gosport. What might have been the consequence, had they arrived! But to be serious: How long will the inhabitants of those Towns suffer themselves to be so shamefully insulted by Lord Dunmore, and the Captains of the men-of-war? To what is it owing that their Committees have so unaccountably acquitted some late extraordinary delinquents? Is it to a want of zeal in the glorious cause, or of spirit to prosecute it? But we trust that the people of Norfolk will remove our doubts and jealousies, and wipe off every stain on their characters, by making a proper use of the golden opportunity Heaven has now afforded them. To do this, nothing is requisite but a little spirit, with some address and ingenuity in the application of it. A number of small vessels may be easily fitted out as fire-ships, and may be used with almost certainty of success, and without the least risk of lives on our part. Nor can the most loyal of His Majesty’s subjects condemn this measure, since it is but a proper chastisement of the most despicable tools of his greatest enemies; nor can humanity forbid it, because it is dictated by some of its first feelings—an honest indignation and the love of our Country—and is enjoined by the first law of nature.

When King, Lords, and Commons, have combined to enslave us; when a corrupt and abandoned Parliament have voted their lives and fortunes at the service of a perfidious, cruel, and bloody Administration, in the execution of their wicked plan; when, in consequence of this, fleets and armies are sent against us, which have pillaged our coasts, bombarded our Towns, and but for the glorious intrepidity of our countrymen, under the particular favour and protection of the Almighty, would have spread desolation throughout our land; when we consider the damnable plot that has been laid against us, of stirring up the Canadians and Indians to attack us on our frontiers, and our slaves and tories within the body of our Country, whilst their fleets were to lay waste our coasts; and when we have seen this plan recommended in a pamphlet written by an accursed pensioner, Dr. Johnson, by the order of the Minister, and under the particular patronage of the King; when we consider these things, who can hesitate a moment to declare that we ought to do all in our power to be revenged on such an Administration, and to hurl down destruction on all the infernal tools? Let not our countrymen think that Captain Macartney deserves more indulgence than Captain Squire or Lord Dunmore. He, like Captain Montague, has taken upon himself to interfere with the civil power; has impudently supposed that his presence could awe a Committee, and protect a culprit; and has wickedly threatened to fire on a defenceless Town. But let Captain Macartney know, that whenever he lands in Virginia, he is amenable to the laws of Virginia, which may punish him as a trespasser, rioter, or murderer, or as a rebel, if he should, like Lord Dunmore and Squire, attempt to raise an insurrection; and we would have all those tools of Government to know, that whenever they return to England, we shall try the full force of the English laws against all such offences as they have or shall commit here. The American Governours shall severely answer for their conduct in the King’s Bench, and Judges shall remember the fate of Epsom and Dudley.

Williamsburgh, September 21, 1775.

MR. PINKNEY: If you can, please to inform us why the Mercury man-of-war, which has so long been the terrour of Norfolk, and a refuge to our slaves, is not yet burnt, notwithstanding she has been ten days and upwards upon her broadside. We, Sir, who live at a distance, are at a loss how to account for the strange remissness of the inhabitants of Norfolk, in neglecting to seize the opportunity which Heaven has kindly thrown in their way. Surely the interest of the Mayor, who, from his letters to Macartney, seems to prefer the friendship of that deceitful enemy to the welfare of the Town over which he presides, must have prevented the noble rage of the citizens from bursting forth in vengeance upon that accursed vessel, which they now have in their power to sacrifice, for the Captain’s bloody threats to destroy their Town. We can by no means attribute the omission to a partiality in the inhabitants of Norfolk to the avowed enemies of our Country; nor can we suppose them so far destitute of courage as to be afraid to make the attempt. But let the cause be what it will, we do inform them, through the channel of your intelligence, that unless they immediately perform this act, so ardently