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Copies of Letters from the Governor of Georgia Seized in the Post Office at Charleston, Part 2 Admiral Graves. Savannah in Georgia, the 27th of June, 1775. Sir:Some time ago, I had the honor to receive a letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, dated the lst of February last, wherein he wrote me, that an order was gone from the Admiralty to you, sir, to send me one of your cruisers; but, none is yet arrivednor have I heard any thing of it since. And I am now to acquaint you, that four or five boats, from the South Carolina side of our inlet have been here for ten or twelve days past, full of armed menit is said near one hundred. We expect a vessel from London every day, with a considerable quantity of gun-powder on boardand report says, that these people mean to take it out, and carry it away; and it is not in my power to prevent it. And thus you see, sir, that our port may, and in short is, blocked up by our neighbors, and that they have it in their power to plunder any thing that arrives here, and do just what they please. I hope, therefore, that you will be kind enough to give such immediate assistance, as may be in your power, to prevent such insults and attempts as I have mentioned. Pardon me, sir, for saying, that an armed schooner will be of little use; or any thing less than a sloop of war of some forceand which, from Lord Dartmouth's letter, I have been long expecting, and impatiently looking out for. I doubt not, but the situation we are in, will strike you in such a light, that you will see the propriety of immediate assistance. Another matter seems to be also necessary for his Majesty's service; viz: frequent accounts from yourself, and General Gage with respect to the state of affairs, your wayas, I find it has the greatest influence on the conduct and proceedings of the people here. And I have no way by which this can be done, unless you are pleased to send it by some of his Majesty's vessels under your command. I have the honor to be, with perfect esteem, Sir, your most ob. and most hum. servt. JAMES WRIGHT vThe above letter was withdrawn from the envelope, and the following was substituted in its place, by the Secret Committee and forwarded: Savannah in Georgia, the 27th June, 1775. Sir:Some time ago, I had the honor to receive a letter from the Earl of Dartmouth dated the 1st February last, wherein he wrote to me, that an order was gone from the Admiralty to you, sir, to send me one of your cruisers. It gives me the highest pleasure to acquaint you, that I now have not any occasion for any vessel of war, and I am clearly of opinion, that his Majesty's service will be better promoted by the absence than the presence of vessels of war in this port. On this subject of military forces, being at present sent to this part of the continent, I have written fully to the General, and I beg leave to refer you, sir, to that letter, which is of equal date with this. As I am persuaded it will be for the benefit of the service, that the Southern Governors should have early information of important transactions in your part of the continent, I doubt not, but that if you, sir, shall be of the same opinion, you will send such by some advice boat. And if such vessel proceeds to Charlestown, my packet may there be sent on shore, and it will reach me, by a secure land conveyance by Express from the Post Office. Perhaps Captain Tollemache may give you, sir, some little alarm about two or three canoes from South Carolina in this river; waiting, as report says, to take some gun-powder from on board a vessel daily expected to arrive here. But, I acquaint you, sir, that they are sent upon a smuggling party of goods, into their own Colony, by private directions of their Committee. They mean to procure some gun-powder, and I shall not be displeased if under the appearance of some violence they purchase such an articleas, it is intended to make good the contract made by Mr. Stuart and myself with the Indians, both Creeks and Cherokees; the latter of whom, will be more convenient for the Carolinians, than the people of Georgia to supply. I have the honor to be, with perfect esteem, Sir, your most humb. and most obt. servt. *A fac-simile signature of JAMES WRIGHT, was affixed to this letter, by the Secret Committee. (From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 1, pp. 100-102 Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 1, p. 100 Date: 6/27/1775 |
Last modified: 7/10/03/CLN.
URL: http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/displays/RevWar/archives-online/Gibbes__v__1__p__100.html