gentlemen who were yesterday deputed from this Congress to go to Georgia, be authorized and desired to engage all and every able and effective seaman they may meet with there, who shall be willing to enter into the service of this Colony; and that they be also authorized to purchase all the Sulphur, Saltpetre and Lead that can be got there. That one thousand Pounds currency be immediately placed into the hands of the said Messrs. Powell and De Saussure for the purposes abovementioned; and that this Congress will cause their drafts for any further sums that may be wanted, to be paid.

John McQueen, Esq., was returned as duly elected a Representative of the Parish of St. Paul, to serve in the present Congress in the room of William Skirving, Esq., who serves for St. Bartholomew's.

And took his seat accordingly.

Ordered, That Colonel Moultrie be desired to order a Sergeant and twelve men to go on board the Schooner Defence every evening, at five o'clock, and to remain on board until seven in the morning, until the further order of the Congress therein.

Mr. President laid before the Congress the draft which he had been requested to prepare, of a Letter to the Council of Safely in Georgia, stating the late hostilities by the British arms.

And the same being read, was amended, and is as follows:

By order of Congress.

South-Carolina, Charlestown, November 12, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The actual commencement of hostilities by the British arms in this Colony against the inhabitants, is an event of the highest moment to the southern part of the United Colonies on this Continent; therefore, lest so important an event should be misrepresented, I am directed to inform you of the particulars of it, and of a subsequent action.

As it was found necessary to obstruct the channel of Hog Island Creek, being one approach to this town from Rebellion Road, Captain Tufts, commander of the Colony schooner Defence, mounted with two nine-pounders, six six-pounders, and two four-pounders, having on board seventy seamen and marines, proceeded yesterday, about two in the afternoon, with four hulks, in order to sink them upon the bar of that creek, being about gunshot from the King's ships Tamer of sixteen, and the Cherokee of six guns. As Captain Tufts approached the place of his destination, the Tamer fired six shot at him, which Captain Tufts, just coining to an anchor, returned with two; and the Tamer continuing the cannonade, Captain Tufts contented himself with returning only one shot more, and then proceeded to sink the hulks. He accordingly sunk three large schooner hulks, but the fourth not coming up early enough on the tide, he continued the night on his station, in order to sink her also, at a proper time of tide. About a quarter after four in the morning, the Tamer and Cherokee, having warped nearer to Captain Tufts in the night, discharged their broadsides at him, and continued the cannonade until about seven o'clock, when Captain Tufts having, notwithstanding so heavy a fire, carried the hulk to her proper station, and having scuttled her in various places, left her sinking, and then, having no further duty to perform, he retreated. However, as the bulk, being loaded with sand, was a considerable time in sinking, and as Captain Tufts was considerably retreated, the Tamer sent an armed boat which fired the hulk, towing her into shallower water, where she shortly after sunk. Captain Tufts in his retreat, ineffectually fired a shot at this armed boat, but finding his firing would not be of any service, he very prudently refrained from such an expenditure of ammunition. Notwithstanding so long and severe a cannonade from the Tamer and Cherokee, on board of which last Lord William Campbell has for some time past fixed his residence, Captain Tufts received no other damage but one shot under his counter, one in his broadside, and a third which cut his fore starboard shroud; not a man was wounded. In general the shot passed between his rigging, and struck the main land; and amidst this imminent danger, the officers and men on board, although in general new in the service, displayed the greatest cheerfulness, tranquillity and coolness, during this heavy fire. Fort Johnson discharged some twenty-six pounders at the Tamer and Cherokee, but the cannon requiring an elevation of ten degrees to reach them, rather than continue to discharge such random shot the firing from that post was discontinued.

The inhabitants of this metropolis were in general spectators of the latter part of the cannonade. The drums beat to arms, and the militia in a body assembled under their officers with such alertness, and so properly armed, as gave the highest pleasure and confidence to the publick.

I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most humble servant,

WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, President.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety, at Savannah, in Georgia.

Resolved, That the two Pilot Boats, lately taken into the service of the Colony, be ordered to continue cruizing till the further order of this Congress.

Ordered, That the Commissary of Stores, for the Naval Department, do continue to supply the said Boats with Provisions and other necessaries.

Colonel Pinckney, from the Committee on the state of the Colony, and the means for immediately putting the same into the most defensible state, reported in part, according to order.

And the said partial Report being taken under immediate consideration, the Congress came to the following Resolutions thereupon:

Resolved, That, as there is a great want of men to manage and fire the Artillery in Fort Johnson, and the other fortifications now erected, and such batteries as it may hereafter be thought necessary to erect, a Regiment of Artillery be forthwith raised and embodied, to serve either in garrisons or otherwise, by land or water, as the service of the Colony may require, to consist of three Companies of one hundred men each, including non-commissioned Officers and Gunners.

Resolved, That the said Regiment be officered, and allowed daily pay, as follows; and rations at three Shillings a day:

A Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant, five Pounds currency per day.

A Major, four Pounds and ten Shillings.

Three Captains, three Pounds each.

Three First Lieutenants, one Pound and fifteen Shillings each.

Three Second Lieutenants, one Pound and fifteen Shillings each.

Six Lieutenants Fire Workers, one Pound twelve Shillings and six Pence each.

A Quartermaster, one Pound and fifteen Shillings.

An Adjutant, two Pounds and five Shillings.

A Surgeon, two Pounds.

A Surgeon's Mate, one Pound and ten Shillings.

A Sergeant Workman, to attend the Laboratory, fifteen Shillings.

Twelve Sergeants, twelve Shillings each.

Twelve Corporals, eleven Shillings each.

Thirty Gunners, ten Shillings each.

Two hundred and fifty-eight Matrosses, seven Shillings and six Pence each.

Three Drums, eleven Shillings each.

Three Fifes, eleven Shillings each.

An Armourer, twenty Shillings.

An Assistant Armourer, ten Shillings.

A Paymaster, two Pounds.

Resolved, That twenty-five Pounds currency, bounty money, be allowed and paid to every able bodied and effective man who shall voluntarily enlist in the said Regiment; to be paid in such proportions, and at such periods, as in the opinion of the officer shall have the best tendency to promote the service.

Resolved, That the sum of twenty-five Pounds per man for the Privates, and thirty-five Pounds for the Sergeants and Corporals, be allowed for clothing the said Regiment of Artillery.

Resolved, That all the men to be raised for the said Regiment, and also all the men henceforward to be enlisted in the service of the Colony, be engaged for six months certain, and not exceeding the term of two years, if they shall then desire to be discharged.