Letter to the Council of Safety of Georgia

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Colonel Parsons reported the draught of a Letter, which he and Mr˙ Bee had yesterday been desired to prepare, to the Council of Safety in Georgia, relative to Mr˙ Campbell' s application to this Congress for Gunpowder.

The said Draught being read, was amended, and agreed to as follows:

Charlestown, November 9, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Mr˙ Campbell has applied to the Provincial Congress now sitting here, acquainting them, "that though you have allowed certain quantities of powder to several other houses concerned in the Indian trade at Augusta, yet you had omitted to let his house have any, because all his powder, three thousand two hundred pounds weight, was brought into this Colony, and that by your making such a distinction, he is likely to be a great sufferer." The Congress, therefore, have desired me to signify to you, gentlemen, that it is their wish that you would spare Mr˙ Campbell five hundred pounds weight of the powder in your possession, and that they cannot entertain a doubt of your doing so, as it will be consistent with the promises made by you, particularly by Captain Elbert and Mr˙ Habersham, to Captains Joiner and Barnwell, that all the traders should be put upon a footing. Rather than all the traders should not be upon an equal footing, we would, if practicable, have supplied Mr˙ Campbell out of what is in this Colony, but we are now rendered less able, as we have just received intelligence that one thousand pounds weight of powder, which we were sending to the Cherokees, has been, near Ninety-Six, seized and taken away by one Patrick Cunningham (whose brother Robert we have here in custody) and some other malcontents there, against whom we are, at a considerable expense, sending an army that we hope will bring them to reason.

I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient servant.

By order of Congress.

WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, President.

Honourable Council of Safety, at Savannah.