From Mose in Secondary Literature by Amy February 23rd 1740 Sir, The departure of the bilander having been delayed from the 15th inst. [instant] on account of the unsettled state of things, Page: [40]39 [djvu image | jpg image] I am able to inform you by her of the return of Juan Ignacioto this place on yesterday night, he having gone out with ten other Indians for the important purpose of reconnoitring [reconnoitering] the country and the river of Picalata; and notwithstanding that I gave them the strictest charge, and offered them a full reward if they would capture an Englishmanor one of the Indians friendly to them, that I might learn the state and condition of the citizens of those colonies, as well as their ideas and intentions. The said Juan Ignacioassured me he could not accomplish that object, that at the first step a thousand obstacles presented themselves. That having left the creek of Tocoy, that empties in the St John riverin a small canoe, that some one had hid they navigated the southern side close to the banks the better to execute their object, and carefully following this course, they discovered a lighter which had gone on shore on the same side which they followed, and judging that they could see them notwithstanding the great fog, they put about and landed farther back, and dividing themselves into two squads, they surrounded the Englishof the lighter who were in an orange grove collecting the fruit, and discharged a shot to frighten them; they fled precipitately, and when they collected on board their lighter, our Indians, who followed them swiftly, began to fire sheltered by the pine trees, by which they killed at least two Englishmen, without being able to learn if more had fallen, for having seen that the helmsman fell first, they who rowed with the oars had no one to obey punctually, and the Indians did not cease to fire with effect from the woods on the oarsmen; and that while furiously engaged in this combat they heard the report of a cannon with a ball and saw that a schooner painted red had come under sail from the southern side of the same river with a large guard and that they intended to land a portion of them; that on seeing this they retreated to place themselves in safety, and at the begining [beginning] of the night they took up their march for this garrison with the loss of Page: [41]40 [djvu image | jpg image] their canoe, which they could not recover on account of the danger to which they would be exposed. I have thus to inform you that the Englishhave occupied the whole river of St Johnwith their vessels, and that their navigation on the southern part tends to embarrass the communication with Apalache, to render the Ucheesfriendly to them, and to make captive any courier who may go or come. Tolerating this would subject to scorn the sacred honor of the king, give a hideous stain to the Catholic arms, and offend the pride of the nation, I therefore implore you to send here the [deleted: g] schooners of the expedition manned with good sailors, in charge of a seaman of known courage and experience to direct them; because without this aid it is physically impossible to put in execution what I intend, and it will follow that we shall see ourselves surrounded, without having a man who will dare go out the garrison for any purpose, from which will arrive [deleted: the] fatal consequences, from the want of a few necessary trifles for the preservation of the community. With due attention to these things and to the glory of the king, I reiterate to you all my hints for the purpose of holding and preserving this place and give the greatest merited satisfaction. At the same time time I beg the favour [favor] of you to [added: have] sent here two blocks with three sheaves with five fathoms of cable in place of the 50 which I requested in the letter of the 15th inst. [instant]. That you might have no doubts about the object to which my intentions are directed, I inform you that on the river St Johnsor Picalatathere is a place named Mojoloa, where, those acquainted with the country affirm, vessels which attempt to enter the southern part of the river would be exposed to gun shot from a musket, whether they went to succor Pupoor to take with a maritime force any other part, for though the river is wide here, the only channel is in the immediate neighbourhood [neighborhood] of this side, and the rest cannot be navigated by the smallest canoe. And I have thought to build here a fort with six or more eight pounders, with a garrison of a captain and 50 men, when that of Pupois shut up without our being able to succor it, and I have resolved to put this plan in execution. And to accomplish it I beg you to send three schooners which are just the thing for this purpose, to transport artillery, to Page: [42]41 [djvu image | jpg image] clear the river of the enemy's vessels, sieze [seize] those they find in it, and retake the fort of Pupo, for without fighting its garrison would surrender, and having accomplished those ends, the schooners could return to this port to defend its entrance and dispose and assist to incline the larger number of Indian, which to me seems easy, to form a pueblo in the vicinity of the new fort of Mojoloa, and I will make the citizens go out with their slaves to cultivate the plantations which they began two years ago. I believe with much pleasure that this project will be approved of by you, and I hope you will condescend to give me the aid I ask, so zealous as you are for the service of the king, and interested in the progress of these provinces in virtue of the confidence placed by his majesty particularly in you, no doubt from the great proofs you have given of your great talents, conduct & firmness. P.S. The Englishare with their boats as far as Pirigirigua15 leagues from this place to the south, and it is probable will try to go out by the keys, as it is possible they will, and by Charles' Bay(Bahia de Carlos) and Tampaby this unknown river, by which they could injure us greatly, and if it did not affect the honor of our arms it would have an influence on the whole length of the river, and they would possess the lake by force to which shelter they would close the entrance and prevent the passage into it, without which nothing could be executed. [added: Note The St John'sleads into several inland lakes connected into a chain, which may have given rise to the belief that it connected Tampa baywith the Atlantic.] I hope your zeal for the Royal service will move you to extend that aid which I ask. etc- Manuel de Montianoto J. F. [Juan Francisco] de Guemes (191)