EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CHARLESTOWN, SOUTH-CAROLINA, DATED JULY 21, 1776.

You are undoubtedly informed before this, that that detestable villain, Steuart, has prevailed upon the Cherokees to take up the hatchet against our countrymen. This, however, does not in the least intimidate us. Our people march forth against the Savages with all the alacrity and cheerfulness you can conceive, and with a full determined resolution to extirpate the whole tribe. The damage done to us by them is yet trifling. A number of the heads of the Tories in this Province, when they heard of the breaking out of the Indians, wrote to our Governour, and told him that they never dreamt the King would descend to such low and diabolical designs; that they were now willing to do everything in their power to assist their brethren in America. These are men of influence on the frontiers, and will be very useful against the Indians.

In a little brush with the Indians the other day, our people were successful; killed, wounded, and took prisoners, a considerable number. Colonel McIntosh, of Georgia, with a party of his regiment, went out a few days ago to reconnoitre the situation of the two young Wrights, who are posted on St. Mary's River, which separates Florida from Georgia. When he came within two miles of their fort, he was fired on from an outpost of theirs; our Colonel returned the fire, killed one, and took nine prisoners; upon which the fort fired an alarm gun. The man-of-war below hearing this, immediately detached a barge with a Lieutenant and nine men; all these the Colonel thought proper to seize upon. In the brig lately taken here with Highlanders, on board was found about £600 sterling worth of goods.

Williamsburgh, Virginia, August 10, 1776.

A correspondent has favoured us with extracts of letters from officers of rank in Fincastle, from which we learn, that on Sunday, the 21st of July, a large party at Indians attacked the Watauga Fort, in which were one hundred and fifty men. They fired on a great number of women, who went out at daybreak to milk their cows, and chased them into the fort, but providentially did not kill one of them. They fired briskly on the fort till eight o'clock, but without effect, and then retired, with considerable loss, as was supposed from the quantity of blood found; but they returned to the attack, and were besieging the fort six days after, as a messenger, who was slipped out, informed our men on Holstein. A detachment was sent to relieve the fort, and it was expected they would do so on Monday, the 29th. A party of one hundred men of the Militia fell in with a party of forty Cherokees, who were fifty miles on this side the Island, at one of the deserted plantations, and killed five, took one prisoner, and twenty guns. It is worthy of our observation, that in these several skirmishes with the Indians, in all of which we did more execution than in some of the principal actions of the last war, we lost not a man. No one can reflect on this, and many other circumstances which have attended the present war with the British tyrant, without acknowledging that he sees evident proofs of the Divine interposition in our favour.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO GENERAL DENT.

SIR: Your favours of the 19th and 20th instant are before us. We approve of your ordering an additional number of Militia from Colonel Hawkins's battalion, and don't doubt your doing everything necessary to repel the invaders.

We have ordered Major Price down, with three field-pieces and one nine-pounder, with Captain Thomas's Independent company, which we rest satisfied are arrived with you by this time. These will enable the Major and you to speak more properly with the row-galley than you hitherto could do.

You apprehend the enemy are moving up the river: it is not improbable but they may be. You will (as you have done) continue to watch their motions, and, from time to time, inform us. We wish to be acquainted how many and what sort of deserters have come over—whether they be soldiers, sailors, Tories, or prisoners taken by them.

Wishing you all success, we are, &c.

To Brigadier-General Dent.

P. S. Please to say in your next how Captain Beall may be.

JAMES TILGHMAN TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Sunday morning, July 21, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Mr. Thomas, who was to have delivered you the enclosed, is now with me. The company is very anxious to be furnished with the arms which arrived at Chin-goteague, but I have informed Mr. Thomas of the resolution of the Council as to them. It will be very difficult, if not impossible, to procure a sufficient quantity of guns here, the Militia having but few, and will not part with them, unless to the company which is to defend Kent-Island. They, I believe, will soon be supplied, from what I can learn. I cannot, however, speak with certainty.

I shall meet the Committee next Thursday, and shall then have an opportunity of forming some judgment myself of the practicability of arming them. Pray write me if anything extraordinary.

I am your obedient humble servant, JA TILGHMAN.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

B. JOHNSON TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Fredericktown, July 21, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Yesterday I received part of Captain Good's company. Lieutenant Ghislen now waits on you for commissions and orders. Captain Good informed me that it will be out of his power to procure arms unless you will be pleased to furnish him with money, and then he can get both arms and blankets. I submit it to your consideration whether it would not be best. I believe Captain Good to be a man of honour. I know him to be a man of property, and will, I dare say, lay the money out to the advantage of the publick.

Some villain or other has propagated through this County that Colonel Beatty and myself have destroyed the recommendation of Field-Officers by the Committee, and the several petitions of the people for a further representation. I hope you will not think me troublesome, when I request the favour of you to inform me by letter, that they are in your possession, by Mr. Ghislen. I hope to receive your answer.

I am, gentlemen, with respect, your obedient servant,

B.JOHNSON.

To the Council of Safety of Maryland, at Annapolis.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO COLONEL HASLETT.

Philadelphia, Sunday morning, July 21, 1776.

SIR: In consequence of a resolution of Congress passed yesterday evening, I am to direct you, immediately and without loss of time after the receipt of this, to march with the troops under your command to Philadelphia, there to do duty until the further orders of Congress. If the company ordered to Lewistown be still there, you are not to include that company in your marching orders for Philadelphia. On your arrival here, you will station your troops in the barracks.

I am, with respect, sir, your most obedient servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To Colonel Haslett, or Officer commanding the Battalion of Continental Troops in the Delaware Government.

DR. FRANKLIN TO LORD HOWE.

Philadelphia, July 21, 1776.

MY LORD: I received safe the letters your Lordship so kindly forwarded to me, and beg you to accept my thanks.

The official despatches to which you refer me contain nothing more than what we had seen in the act of Parliament, viz: "offers of pardon upon submission;" which I was sorry to find, as it must give your Lordship pain to be sent so far on so hopeless a business.

Directing pardons to be offered to the Colonies, who are the very parties injured, expresses, indeed, that opinion of our ignorance, baseness, and insensibility, which your uninformed and proud nation has long been pleased to entertain of us; but it can have no other effect than that of increasing our resentments. It is impossible we should think of submission to a Government that has, with the most wanton barbarity and cruelty, burned our defenceless towns in the midst of winter, excited the savages to massacre our peaceful farmers, instigated our slaves to murder their masters, and is even now bringing foreign mercenaries to deluge our set-