sult Mr. Hallowell, and present my best compliments to him.

You desire me to have patience, that Anthony shall not neglect me. I should make a most ungrateful return for your generosity, and his endeavours to serve me, if I were not perfectly easy. While my leaves of absence are continued, and this garrison not too much weakened, I can re-main content for any length of lime. But we look upon the great draft of men made from this fort as a very unfortunate measure, that may be attended with very dangerous consequences to the service here; and I am confident if the General or the Ministry knew the true state of these Southern Colonies, that such a measure would never have taken place. The only other difficulty I find here is in point of board and lodging.

I had lately fixed myself very agreeably at a good house, a small distance from town, across St. Sebastian's Creek, in a healthy situation, with a worthy old gentleman, Mr. Cuming, the Comptroller of the Port, but he, poor man, lately caught the fever, which carried him off in a few days. I still stay at the house, to take care of his property, but it cannot be convenient for me to stay there long. Were you acquainted with the geography of the Southern Colonies, you would know that it was impossible for me to go to Pensacola, The only passage by water is via Jamaica, in the packet which calls there on her return from that island, not in going to it, from Charlestown; and a passage by land is utterly impracticable for any one but an Indian or a Cracker; which last term General Grant can explain to you. I apprehend also that I could sooner negotiate a change with Sir Charles Burdett, the Collector of this Port, to whom this climate is as unfavorable as that of Boston is to me; provided he be willing to descend from a collector of a small port to the surveyor of a large one. I understood, from Mr. Cuming, that the incomes are pretty near equal. He has been in Boston, and the neighbourhood thereof, these three years, and I know is very desirous of remaining there longer than the Board may perhaps think proper. I could wish you to talk to him on the subject, if he be still with you. Mr. Hallowell, who knows him well, will inform you about him.

Captain Barbut I saw in Charlestown, and, as I soon found he was acquainted with our family, we became very intimate. He is a fine old soldier, and very candidly, and in the most friendly manner, made me himself the offer you mention; nay indeed, even to resign in my favour, for a very reasonable satisfaction; but I apprehend it would be very imprudent in me to give up my own certainty for his uncertainty; besides, you will please to observe, that your brother has all along proposed the West-Indies to me, and I am myself of opinion that not only the equable climate of the islands would be best for me, but that also the chances of vacancy or promotion are there much greater. Please to observe also that the climate of Pensacola is not reckoned comparable to this in any respect.

I think I have now answered your letter; but whether I have or not, I have no more time left. Your cask of shrub is completed; five gallons of rum and seven of juice; which is yet hardly ripe enough, but I hope will do. Adieu, and believe me to be, yours, most affectionately,

DANIEL CHAMIER, Jr.

October 4.

Postscript.—I am come to town again early this morning, to put the finishing hand to this letter, and to see your shrub well taken care of. Remember again that you are not to take this as a specimen of the best we can do, as the fruit is hardly ripe enough. I beg you to see that Mr. Savage sends me the clothes and books I wrote to him for a twelve month ago. I am surprised he did not embrace so fine an opportunity as the man-of-war. Several of my things are lost and destroyed in the house where I left them.

I once more beg the favour of you to send me a few dozens of Madeira wine, if to be had in Boston, at any reasonable price. It is the only article we are much in want of; I mean for the table. If that is not to be had, some good Fayal, or other white wine, might do. Lisbon, I suppose, is too sweet to be so proper as other wines.

Send an answer to Mr. Penman instantly. He would set to work for you, and procure a large quantity of fruit, if he were sure of your vessel.

It is astonishing to me how you manage with your packets and men-of-war. We have now English intelligence above a month later than in your paper of the 15th September, viz: 10th July, by the July packet; and I suppose the August mail is at Charlestown by this time. You desire the things you wanted to be sent by the return of the man-of-war, and the Captain declares he is stationed here until April next. How did you make this mistake ?

I will not fail to compliment the gentlemen you mention, when the opportunity offers. Should my friend, Captain Innes, come to Boston, I beg you to treat him as you would myself; I never met with a man in my life with whom I formed so close an intimacy in so short a time. The officers of the Sixty-Third Regiment can tell you who he is. He was last in their regiment.

Adieu again, yours, most affectionately, again,

DANIEL CHAMIER, Jr.

JOHN STUART TO SAMUEL KEMBLE.

St. Augustine, October 4, 1775.

SIR: I herewith transmit you, annexed, a list of bills, which I have drawn upon his Excellency, the Commander-in-chief, for the expenses of my Department; the particulars of which are explained in said list.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

JOHN STUART.

To Samuel Kemble, Esq., Secretary to his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.

List of Bills drawn by me upon his Excellency General GAGE, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Forces, NORTH-AMERICA.

September 20, 1775.—At thirty days sight, in favour of Mr. Bichard Yates, merchant, New-York, £2,625, York currency, for extraordinary expenses this current year, (No. 20.)

September 20, 1775.—At thirty days sight, in favour of George Ancrum, Jr., attorney, £792 3s. 9d., York currency, for officers' salaries for the current year, (No. 21.)

October 4, 1775.—At thirty days sight, in favour of William McKennon, £262 10s., York currency, for expenses incurred on the Mississippi, the current year, (No.22)

JOHN STUART.

PETER CHESTER, GOVERNOUR OF WEST-FLORIDA, TO GOVERNOUR TRTON.

Pensacola, November 18, 1775.

SIR: The Earl of Dartmouth having been pleased to signify to me, in a letter of the 5th ofJuly last, His Majesty's royal wishes that I should afford every possible protection to such of his subjects in the Colonies in rebellion, as shall be too weak to resist the violences of the times, and too loyal to concur in the measures of those who have avowed and supported that rebellion, and are desirous of seeking an asylum in this Province; and that I should countenance and protect all such as may be induced, under the circumstances above stated, to retreat hither, and give them grants of land by way of bounty and encouragement, exempt from quitrent for ten years; and that I should also give every possible encouragement in my power to the exportation of lumber from hence to the West-India Islands: I therefore thought proper to direct a Proclamation to issue, notifying and declaring this Royal bounty and encouragement; but I am afraid, from the circumstances of the times, that it will not, be in my power to have it so generally dispersed and published as I could wish, we having no printing press in the Colony; and therefore I have taken the liberty to enclose a copy of this Proclamation to your Excellency, and to request that you will be pleased to direct that a number of copies of the same may be printed and published in your Government.

I have further to request, that your Excellency will be pleased to afford every assistance in your power to have these His Majesty's most gracious intentions carried into execution.

I am, with great regard and esteem, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

PETER CHESTER.

His Excellency William Tryon, Esq.