Furlong has no orders whatever from General Gage to contradict his former, consequently I do not believe that Tonyn has; and if he had, I should most likely have heard it.

A provision vessel would have been of great service; the Pensacola people will have none, but for their pas sage; and although the troops are not at present in want, yet the inhabitants begin to be in distress for flour. And what is to become of our boasted asylum, if there is no thing to eat for those who choose to come among us? I hope Tonyn will write for a provision vessel by this occasion, I have desired Moultrie to give him a hint of it. Urquhart writes to his brother officers that General Grant lives like a General. He tells them also this Province may thank you for the St. Lawrence; by the by, Tonyn wanted to make believe she was sent in consequence of a letter from himself. If your Brigade-Major is as good an officer as the generality of the Fourteenth) you are happy with him; I have often heard him spoken well of by them. Urquhart writes that he expects the Virginia detachments will certainly go to Boston, as they can be of no use with Lord Dunmore, and that the regiment will undoubtedly remain here. Surely there is some strange jumble and mistake of orders in regard to these people; but observe, that what I have already said in regard to the orders I am exceedingly correct in, for, I repeat to you again, I saw them.

De Brahm is on board the Cherokee, as I told you in my last; he has with him a nephew of his own name and the youngest Row, the former from Germany. Some time before Mrs. De Brahm died, when in England, she broke open a will of De Brahm's; the contents (to her astonishment) were leaving every thing he possessed in the world to his brother in Germany. This she wrote to her father, some time before he died; she had sufficient sway with him to make him alter it in her favour, but, as such was his feeling, it is happy for the poor woman she died first. This circumstance I did not know till two days ago, when the person told me had it from old Row. I did not expect even my children would get any thing from him, except, possibly, he might have left them his house and lands after her death; but that he should leave her (who had only him to depend upon) destitute, was beyond my belief al most, but it seems it was too true.

The Government takes up lately a great deal of Skinner's time; he is not able to visit the plantation so often as necessary, and the crop will not be the better for it; Skinner says much the worse, and complains of the prospect; however, he generally grumbles a good deal till he has done making, therefore I do not expect it is so bad as he says he expects; but I shall see the plantation before Wallace sails, and will be more particular by him. The furniture business you shall then hear about, but at present it is impossible to speak to a man absorbed in pen, ink, and paper, preparing despatches, &c., although he did not receive three letters, and no news; even his letters from Donkin, the General's Aid-de-camp, (who is his particular friend,) I do not hear gave him any intelligence. The furniture is an arduous undertaking; the valuation is highly necessary, but, for the pecunia, I am afraid it is non habet.

Wallace is to take your advice, and bring oranges, &c., As he is not idle, I suppose he will sail soon; at present he is employed in carrying out part of this detachment to the snow, which could not come in, not because she drew too much water, but because her transom beam was broke, and she was afraid to venture, lest, if she chanced to touch, she should go to pieces.

It is now eleven o'clock at night, therefore I shall leave off till to-morrow, when I shall give you an account of the situation of Charlestown. I have finished the plan of the harbour, and the town I shall do in the morning. When it is done, you will have at large the opinions you desired on that subject.

October 4, 1775.

Your black man Alexander was with me this instant to inquire after your health, and has loaded me with beaucoup de complimens. He wishes much to come to make your bread, for he says he gives no satisfaction to his present master and mistress; the former he says is assez bon, but madam, who is always referred to, is the diable.

The parson has got the fever, and is really very yellow.I wish he could go to the northward; but if he did, his Excellency would have no one to advise with; and, should counsellors grow scarce, he would not know who to appoint.

The enclosed plans I got done with difficulty, as Kirkland was hurrying me, from whom I got the original. I must refer you to him for many particulars. He has with him the last new survey of the Province of Carolina, and he can explain to you all you can want to know of the interior parts, the complexion of the people, the prospect of assistance, &c. I did not tell him what I wanted his draft for, so he does not know of its going by this conveyance to you. I have made some remarks upon the plans, should they be for attacking the town. You must also observe, that the buildings upon the wharves are always filled with pitch, tar, and turpentine. The batteries were in very bad order, but I have heard they were busy preparing to mend them. Fort Johnston is exceedingly out of repair, but, were it otherwise, the shipping can go to the northward of the Middle Ground without danger, as nothing but random shot could hurt them; besides, a frigate could always cover them. Should it be necessary to attack the south side of Broughton's bastion by frigates, that d—d Fort Johnston must then be silenced, as the south side of the Middle Ground will, by much, be the most convenient water for the vessels to go up to their station. Behind Shute's Folly transport vessels may easily pass; so Mr. Kirkland tells me, which would be a pretty safe way of getting into Cooper river; and, should the landing in the town be deemed rash or improper, they may proceed higher up that river, and land at several places within three, four, five, or six miles of the town, which would be the means of forming an army between them and the country, save their town, (which the rascals do not deserve,) and reduce them to compliance. What I call an army is four or five battalions; for that, with their harbour blocked up, would effectually do their business. Their work at the town gate is out of repair, and not thought of, their chief attention being towards the water; and, even with their utmost efforts there, I do not see how they could resist the frigates. Besides, their batteries are en barbet, and their men exposed. Their harbour is deep water close to their wharves, so that men-of-war might go as near as they pleased on that side; and in Ashley river the frigates marked d, d, may lay much nearer than the letters are placed, for the soundings are set down between them and the shore. These people undoubtedly deserve no favour; why not employ a bomb vessel or two at once; they, under the cover of frigates, would completely do the business; or, place a thirteen-inch mortar on Shute's Folly, and it will be of infinite service. The enclosed plans will give a clear idea of the situation vessels may be placed in, as you have the shoals and soundings. The town will refresh your memory in regard to the situation of the streets, &c. The plans will also guide you to ask Mr. Kirkland questions, which he can, I believe, answer. His general plan will show you the roads and the situation of the Catawbas, with Colonel Thompson's regiment of Horse, at the fork where the Congaree and Wateree rivers meet. They remain there, not to move till wanted. The regiment consists of about three hundred men, and live about those parts; they do not choose much to come to Charlestown, because of ill health and expense.

I wrote in my last (a few days since) something concerning these back-country people, of their wants and their inclinations to do themselves justice or to join the King's troops. I also mentioned a scheme of Savannah river and the back-country people meeting. The man Kirkland can inform you well on all these articles, and, as he knows nothing of my earnestness to acquaint you, or your having wishes to be informed, you may get from him any intelligence you want. If Carolina is to be attacked, he will be of infinite use; but this you will discover as soon as you have conversed with him. I give this letter also to Captain Fordyce, and if Kirkland goes by a safe conveyance from Virginia, he is to deliver them to his care.

John Stuart told me he had, by this opportunity, some instructions from the General in regard to the Indians. Some of them are just now in town; and he told me he in tended to keep about forty or fifty encamped near the town for the winter, and he would make up to them in presents