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COL. BULL TO MR. LAURENS. (Original MS.) HEAD QUARTERS SAVANNAH, March 13, 1776. To Col. Henry Laurens, President of the Council of Safety in Charles Town. Sir: I wrote you yesterday, by Col. Wells, two letters, one of which contained an Indian talk. Some of the head men knowing who I am, were glad to see me, and conversed with me on the present unhappy dispute. I met them at Mr. Jonathan Bryan's, attended by one Gray, a favorite linguist of theirs. They made great profession of friendship for the people of Carolina, took me by the hand and wished that they and the Carolinians might always hold fast to each other, and so forth. I believe them sincere to their profession, and doubt not a very good use may be made of them, if properly attended to. In my last I mentioned to you, that nine of Mr. Arthur Middleton's negroes were gone on board the man-of-war, but am sorry to acquaint you, that I am well informed between forty and fifty of his have really deserted, and above one hundred and fifty more, the property of others, who are now on Tybee Island. There was a full board at the Council of Safety this day, where I attended, and pressed the matter touching the shipping and cargoes now in the harbor, and wished that they, themselves, would do the needful, as it was in their own Province. I told them if they were apprehensive of being opposed by the tory or any other party, I would, with the men under my command, support them. They are divided in their opinions how to dispose of them; some for sending them up the river, others for keeping them where they are, and depriving them of their sails. However, you may rest assured I shall not leave this Province until I see this matter adjusted to my satisfaction, of which I have not now the least doubt from the present disposition of some of the Council of Safety, though I have been told that my coming here, with the command I brought with me, has done the cause great service. It is absolutely necessary to stop the correspondence carried on between the tories in the two Provinces. This you will receive by a negro belonging to Mr. Deas's estate, hired by Mr. Alex. Inglis to Philip Wills, to ride post in the Continental service; and as few would suspect that the Continental riders would carry tory letters, it will be a safe conveyance; and as it is highly probable such may be in the mail, or secreted in the follows own pockets, I shall, for your fellow's, furnish you with a list of such letters as he may have in charge, that you may have it in your power to demand a sight of such as you may think necessary, from the persons to whom directed; the bearer is to call at Joseph Town, where, it is highly probable, he may receive dispatches from Mr. John Graham and Mr. John Inglis who, it is well know, are disaffected, and, it is said here, they are frequently on board the men-of-war. Certain it is, the former has been there within these few days. I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, STEPH'S. BULL P.S. Mr. Wills tells me that he has sealed up all the letters, and directed them to your Deputy Secretary, Mr. Bouneatheau. (From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 1, p. 266-267 ) Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 1, p. 266 Date: 5/13/1776 |
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