WEST-FLORIDA.

By His Excellency PETER CHESTER, Esq., Captain-General, Governour, and Commander-in-Chief, in and over His Majesty's said Province of WEST-FLORIDA, and the Territories depending thereon in AMERICA, Chancellor, Vice-Admiral, and Ordinary of the same, &c.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas His Majesty, by his royal instructions, dated at St. James's, the 3d day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, and in the fourteenth year of his reign, did think fit, with the advice of his Privy Council, to revoke and annul all the powers and authorities which, before that time, had been given by His Majesty to the Governours of this Province, for the laying out and passing grants of land within the same, and to direct and appoint certain rules and regulations, to be thenceforth strictly and punctually observed, for the future disposal, by publick sale, of such lands, tenements, and hereditaments as then were, or thereafter should be in His Majesty's power to dispose of, within this Province, in the manner by the said instructions particularly mentioned and directed:

And whereas, His Majesty has lately been most graciously pleased to signify his royal wishes that the Governour of this Province 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 West-Florida; and to that end His Majesty has been pleased to direct that the execution of the instructions of the third day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, hereinbefore mentioned, should be suspended for the present within this Colony:

And whereas His Majesty has also been pleased to signify his further pleasure to the Governour of this Province, to give every possible encouragement to the exportation of lumber from this Colony to his Islands in the West-Indies: It is therefore hereby notified to all His Majesty's good and faithful subjects who may be induced, under the circumstances above stated, to seek a retreat in this Province, that the Governour of the said Province will afford them every possible protection and countenance in his power; and that they, upon their arrival in this Province, and applying to the Governour thereof in Council, for grants of land, shall obtain the same, exempt from quitrents for ten years, under the following regulations, to wit: That one hundred acres of land will be granted to every such person, being master or mistress of a family, for himself and herself; and fifty acres for every white or black man, woman, or child, of which such person's family shall consist at the actual time of making the grant. And in case any such person, well-affected to the Constitution, applying to the said Governour in Council for grants of land, shall be desirous of taking up a larger quantity than the actual number of persons in his or her family would entitle such person to take up, that the said Governour in Council will grant to every such person or persons such further quantity of land as they may desire, not exceeding one thousand acres, over and above what they are entitled to by the number of persons in their respective families: Provided, It shall appear to the said Governour that they are in a condition and intention to cultivate the same: And provided also, That they, at the time of such application, do give good evidence to the Governour of the said Province of their real attachment to the Constitution, and of their non-concurrence in the rebellious proceedings in the other Colonies.

And it is hereby further notified, that the Governour of this Province will afford every possible encouragement to all His Majesty's good subjects who may think proper to be concerned in the exportation of lumber, and all other produce, from this Province to the West-Indies, and that he will grant his license to any such person or persons to cut wood and convert it into lumber, upon any part of His Majesty's lands within this Province: Provided always, that proper security be given, upon the exportation of any lumber, that the same shall be landed in some of the West-India Islands belonging to the King.

Given under my hand, and the Great Seal of His Majesty's said Province, in the Council Chamber at Pensacola, the eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, and in the sixteenth year of His Majesty's reign.

PETER CHESTER.

By His Excellency's command:

ALEXANDER MACULLOUGH, Dep. Sec'y.

GOD save the King.

ALLAN CAMERON TO DONCAN CAMERON.

On board the ship William, Norfolk Harbour,

in Virginia, November 11, 1775.

DEAR SIR: Though I never had the pleasure of being personally acquainted with you, I am very sensible of the connexive narration of our predecessors, which induces me now to take the freedom of troubling you with this epistle. No doubt, sir, you would have heard of an unfortunate accident that had happened between one Mr. Cameron, of Mursirloch, and I, in the year '72, at which time I believe you was at Fort-William, in Lochaber.

From the above circumstances, I dare to say you will, and justly, conclude that I am a son of Mr. Cameron, of Erracht. Since my departure from that part of the world, I have been in both the French and British West-Indies, and over the most civilized parts of North-America, still in the character of a gentleman; so that good or bad luck has ordained a roving life for me hitherto. At the same time, I must beg leave to let you know, that I at last got pretty well settled to the southward; but, as I could not comply with the proposals of some of the demagogues of this unlucky rebellion, was obliged to push along. I arrived here a few days ago from St. Augustine, in East-Florida, which place I left with a view of proceeding from here, by the first opportunity, to Boston; and, as I always had an inclination of getting into the army, and still have, my intention was to have joined some marching regiment as a volunteer, till better would offer, of which I made no doubt, with what recommendation I had to some gentlemen there, in conjunction with your interest, which I flattered myself with. But Lord Dunmore, finding that I was upon a plan of this nature, insisted that I would be advised by him, and accept of a lieutenancy in a Provincial regiment that he is about raising, of which he himself is to be Colonel. I could not well but agree to his Lordship's proposals, and am to set out to-morrow morning for Detroit, along with one Major Connolly, who is made Lieutenant-Colonel of said regiment. We are very apprehensive of being intercepted by some of their d—d Committees. However, if we get out, and this undertaking is properly managed, I dare to say it will be of essential service to this Government, and perhaps to others.

I take the liberty of enclosing to you all the letters I had for different gentlemen there, and I beg you will be kind enough to deliver them to those who they are directed for. As I am mentioned in most of them, I suppose the gentlemen will naturally say something or other about me. In that case, I hope you will make such answers as you shall think proper. I imagine, in case General Gage is gone home, as is reported here, that you will deliver the letters directed for his Excellency to Lord Howe, who we understand is Commander-in-chief there at present.

I have not heard one word from my relations or friends at home, since my embarkation at Greenock, in '73; so that I do not know how the MacLonies and my old father make it out. If you should be kind enough to write me, I would esteem it as a particular favour if you would let me know all the Highland news you have.

I am, sir, your most assured friend, and humble servant,

ALLAN CAMERON.

In case you do write me, direct as above, and to the care of Lord Dunmore, and he will forward it.

ALLAN CAMERON TO DANIEL CHAMIER.

On board the ship William, Norfolk Harbour,

in Virginia, November 11, 1775.

SIR: Enclosed you will find three letters, from Mr. Chamier, in East-Florida, which I promised him I would