should be drafted, and held in readiness to march, on the shortest notice, when required, to the assistance of this Colony.

And that all expenses attending Troops sent from one to the relief of the other Colony, should be paid by the Colony from which they are sent; and that, on stating a proper account between the two Colonies, the balance, in which one shall be indebted to the other, shall be forthwith paid.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed on the 18th of last month, to consider, among other things, of a proper division of the Militia, and how the same may be rendered most serviceable to the publick, do forthwith sit, and give in a Report to-morrow.

Ordered, That Major Williamson, Colonel Gervais, Captain Williams, and Captain Winn, be added to the said Committee.

Read a Letter received last night from the Council of Safety of Georgia, dated 16th instant,* with the sundry Papers therein referred to, viz:

No. 1. Two Letters from Messrs. Demeré and Roberts to Colonel McIntosh, dated on board the Charming Nancy, 3d and 4th March; Colonel Mclntosh’s Answer. Letter from Messrs. Demere and Roberts, 4th March:

No. 2. Letter from Colonel Mclntosh to Messrs. Demere and Roberts. Letter from Captain Barclay and Major Grant, dated on board the Hinchinbrook, 6th March. Colonel McIntosh’s Letter to them, 5th March. Letter from Mr. Demere to Colonel Mclntosh, dated Ilinchinbrook, 6th March:

No. 3, Letter from the Council of Safety in Georgia to Captain Barclay and Major Grant, dated Savannah, 7th March. Letter from Captain Barclay and Major Grant to Anthony Stokes, Esq., dated on board the Scarborough, 14th March:

No. 4. Letter from the Council of Safety for Georgia to Captain Barclay and Major Grant, dated Savannah, 16th March. Copy of an intercepted Letter from James Taylor, dated on board the Christie, at Cockspur, 14th March, to Mr. George Houstoun. Copies of other intercepted Letters,

* SAVANNAH, March 16, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Since ours of the 4th instant to you, we have neither heard from you, nor have we wrote to you, except by Lieutenant-Colonel Wells, upon a particular business, which, by your assistance, we hope he will soon have effected.

Colonel Bull, with the detachment from your Province, arrived here very seasonably on Sunday last, our own Militia having been so greatly fatigued with marching, keeping out-guards, ambuscades, and watching, that we were under the necessity of suffering a great part of them to go home.

On the evening of the 3d instant, the chief of the vessels which escaped the fire, got up some small distance from the town, and lay under cover of the armed schooner and sloop; and, towards the morning, they sent express to Colonel McIntosh, with the original of the enclosed copy marked No. 1, by which wo were entrapped into a cessation, at the time when we should have done ourselves justice by destroying or taking all the vessels, both warlike and mercantile, which it was in our power easily to do with fire-ships, as they lay in the South River for near two days, and most of them often aground. This mistake was occasioned by our anxiety for the safety and recovery of our captive friends, though, perhaps, a very mistaken policy, for coercive measures might have been more successful.

We enclose to you copies of all the letters which passed upon that occasion, which will convey to you a full idea of the subject. By them you will find that they sued for peace. During this truce, when any of our officers or men went near the shore where any of the vessels lay, (in all which the soldiery were distributed,) they were meanly obsequious.

On the 7th instant, while they were yet within our power in the Back River, we found that they had affected to construe one of Colonel Mc-Intosh’s proposals into a consent that the merchant shipping should be carried to Cockspur; and, therefore, by way of explanation, and to make a further demand of our prisoners, we sent the despatch marked No. 2, which was delivered as directed, about six o’clock at night. Immediately after which, the whole of the marines, soldiers, and mariners, were set to work, and, after labouring very hard, staving and throwing overboard most of the rice, got out of the Back River, safe into Five-Fathom Hole, about two o’clock in the morning, and in the course of two or three days down to Cockspur.

A few days ago, we sent down a boat, with some necessaries to our confined friends; and by the return, among a number of others, came the originals of the copies we now enclose to you. We are informed that there are many other letters in the packet, both for Carolina and Georgia, which may be had by sending the hard money; and as we intend sending down further supplies to-day, we shall send hard money for all the letters. Those which shall appear to belong or appertain to your Province, we will despatch to you.

By the letters from the contracting victuallers, we learn that our enemies have essayed to make this river a victualling and watering place for the whole forces employed against America; but, with respect to the former, we are determined at all hazards to disappoint them. All we have to guard against is, the being surprised. A number of vessels and troops may arrive below, and be tempted to attack the town at a time when it may be most defenceless. To prevent this, it will be necessary to keep a standing force; in doing which, we are in need of your assistance. If you could spare us about one hundred and fifty or two hundred men, until our officers shall get the battalion recruited, it would enable us, with drafts from our own people, to keep a force sufficient, with our natural advantages, to repel a formidable enemy.

We are much afraid that the enemy will use their exertions to ravage your plantations bordering on our river. They have done it already, as they were making their escape through the Back River, by taking a number of negroes belonging to Mr. Middleton, Mrs. Cuthbert, and others, and by taking the. live stock, &c, from the plantations appertaining to the friends of America.

We have ordered a large boat to be fitted out for the purpose of guarding the river. We have some reasons to believe that the transports, with some of the vessels-of-war, are about sailing for Boston; and we are almost certain that the force now upon our coast will not attempt aught against Charlestown; however, the officers below say that Sir Peter Parker sailed on the 5th of December, for America with four forty-four-gun ships, and five thousand soldiers, and that their destination, in particular, was against your Province.

Several of the King’s officers and non-associates have taken sanctuary on board the King’s ships; and we have six others, besides the two Captains, confined as hostages for the’ good treatment and enlargement of Messrs. Demere, Roberts, and Rice. If necessary, we shall trouble some of our sister Colonies with them.

Captain Grant, of the armed schooner St. John, has, within a few days past, arrived at Cockspur, and gives an account that the American fleet was seen off near Providence, and that thereupon he took the powder (amounting to two hundred and seventy barrels) on board, and went out from the Island one way as the fleet came in on the other.

Six or seven large ships have been seen off St. Catherine’s, from whence they got a pilot; but whether it is sir Peter Parker or our friends, we are at a loss to conjecture. The King’s ships below have taken the Georgia Packet, Captain George Bunner, with four hundred barrels of flour, and other articles of provisions.

By order of the Council of Safety:

WILLIAM EWEN, President.

To the Honourable the Congress or Council of Safety for South-Ca-rolina.

ON BOARD THE CHARMING NANCY, March 3, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: In obedience to your command, we both came on this vessel to demand Mr. Rice. We were ordered on board, and examined by Captain Barkley and Major Grant, who have both declared it was never their intention to commit any act of hostility against this Province, nor do they even now mean any, unless drawn on by you. The above gentlemen have desired me to declare to you, that if any two of you will come on board, you will have their faith and honour to return unmolested; and you may be satisfied with what is above set forth.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient servants,

RAYMOND DEMERR
DANIEL ROBERTS.

GENTLEMEN: Immediately on our coming on board hero, we wrote you a letter by return of the boat; but as we did not hear from you, and the unfortunate scene that afterwards ensued, we apprehend the letter has not reached you. We therefore beg leave to mention the purport of it.

On our coming alongside, we were ordered on board, and examined by Captain Barkley and Major Grant, with regard to our errand. After informing them of this particular, we were confined to the cabin. The above gentlemen have both declared, on their mutual faith and honour, it was never their order or intention to commit any act of hostility against this Province, nor do they even now mean any, unless drawn on by any fresh provocation from you. They have both desired us to assure you, in the most solemn manner, that if any two gentlemen, such as the inhabitants most confide in, will come on board, they may inform themselves of the truth of what has been mentioned; and they pledge themselves, as above, to grant them permission to return when and where they please, unmolested. This, gentlemen, is the conversation that has passed, and beg leave to submit it to your consideration.

We further assure you, that we write without any constraint, or being any way dictated to; and the genteel treatment we have both received, encourage us to place the greatest confidence in their assertions. We shall just add, that your deliberations on this matter may be productive of the most important consequences. Mr. Rice is with us, and treated very well.

We are, gentlemen, with respect and esteem, yours, &c.

RAYMOND DEMERE,
DANIEL ROBERTS.

To the Commanding Officer at Savannah.

Colonel MCINTOSH’S Answer.

DEAR GENTLEMEN: I received your letters of yesterday and to-day, and am authorized to tell you that, as you have been so shamefully treated, contrary to the uniform practice of all civilized people, we will not risk the liberty of any more of our fellow-citizens, which they are unanimously determined, at all events, to sell with their lives. The manoeuvres of these gentlemen, their hostile appearance, with so many armed vessels and troops, stealing in the night on board the ships of those who have scandalously deserted a people by whom they got their bread, in order to attack us, and their conduct with respect to you, evidently show their design against an innocent, peaceable people. We all earnestly wish you among us again; but are sure you would not desire your freedom on any conditions dishonourable to your country. If they will withdraw their vessels and troops from annoying us, to Cockspur again, we authorize you to receive any proposition they may make.

I am, &c.

To Messrs. Raymond, Demeré, and Roberts.