On June 17th, Montiano wrote his update to Guemes.* He relayed the rumor that 200 men were working day and night on a fort on St. Simons Island.* He lamented again about not being able to verify this rumor.* This time, he didn’t blame it on incompetent personnel. He said that if he sent a spy by boat, the English would surely not allow the person beyond the docks.* He shared his attempt to send Juan Ignacio, but said the mission was blocked by too many obstacles.* He said he was waiting for a better opportunity to send a spy.* Montiano also updated Guemes on the Apache project.* He told him about the caravan’s departure, the report of abundant meat, and about Arredondo’s mission to get the homes built before the English have time to discover and wreck the project.* Sir: After the departure of the transports with Don Philipe de Yturrkta and his troops, I learned that the English are fortifying Federico on the island of San Simon, where they are building a brick fort, and that they are doing the work from San Jorge, using a great number of pinnaces, and employing more than 200 men, laboring night and day. Although this information may be feigned, and intended to alarm us, yet I deem it my duty to communicate it to Your Excellency by reason of any significance whatever it may have for the royal service. In order that Your Excellency might be fully possessed of the matter, and for the purpose also of acquiring a real certainty in respect of the operations actually in hand, I at one time thought of despatching one of my most active officers under some pretext, but I have abandoned this step, because it would be perfectly useless. For although he might be allowed to land, he would not be allowed to enter the settlements or converse with any one. To the same end I contemplated sending by land the Indian Juan Ygnacio with companions of his own choice ; after having made preparations, so many difficulties and hindrances came up, that I thought it best to suspend the matter for the present, waiting to see if time would not open a channel through which we might get the news we need. And although Don Antonio de Arredondo, while he was here, and I discussed this matter thoroughly, we have been unable so far to find such a channel. On the 9th instant, there set out for Apalachee Don Antonio de Arredondo, Don Pedro Lamberto, and the foreman Portillo, preceded two days before by Don Miguel de Rivas with his detachment of 50 men, and the convicts who go with him to work on the fort at that place. They took with them thirty-two loads of provisions for the journey. One of the 20 troops of the expedition, returning sick, tells me that they find fresh meat so abundant that they leave it behind at their halts: I take it they will make a good journey. Don Antonio de Arredondo is charged to reconnoiter the terrain best adapted for the settlement of the families destined for that province, and to execute this task with prudence so that neither the Indians nor the English shall detect our purpose, and by advancing occupy the ground before the arrival of the families. Another possibility to guard against is that the English, knowing our plans, should induce the Indians to embarass their execution. I have no doubt that his good management will secure all proper means to this end. Florida, June 17, 1738.