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Content Enable editor Use plain text Code entry Sir: I shall now proceed to answer Your Excellency's letters necessarily laid aside on account of my pressing duties. Besides the intelligence given by the two and twenty deserters that have come here, to the effect that General Oglethorpe has circulated the rumor that he means to return to the siege of this place within four or five months, or next spring, they add that he will cause other galliots to be built, like ours, but of greater burden. And although it appears impossible to me that the said Ogletorpe should repeat the enterprise, on account of the arduous difficulties he will encounter in bringing the settlers of Carolina a second time to his way of thinking, nevertheless as the entire system of the citizens of those colonies and of their 'neighbors, consists and dwells in the desire to capture this place, the reef on which ordinarily they break, and the obstacle to the course of their inhuman and haughty plan of exterminating the Indians of the continent of Apalachee and its confines so as to occupy all these provinces without let or hindrance, it seems logical to me not to spurn their warnings, because it may of course happen that, thoroughly distrusting the conduct of Oglethorpe, they may in case the war continue, ask the King of Great Britian to commit the direction of affairs to some other soldier whose conciliatory character may give them better satisfaction. If this happens, as is possible, or if the same Oglethorpe should again have charge, he may succeed in bewitching them into the belief that another greater expedition is necessary against this place, for obviously we must assume that the new attempt and attack would be undertaken with double forces at least. And if his court should be inclined to grant the two regiments or the two thousand troops, as divulged, because of the advantage to that Crown of holding this province, then will it be most necessary to send equal forces; for, seeing that this place is an open country, its defense should be guarded more than any other thing. There can infallibly be no other worse nor more deplorable condition, than our reduction to the limits of the fort; if this happens, which God forbid, it is equally infallible that we could not exist for any length of time. Without taking into consideration any other reason or principle, the sad voices and tears of the women and children, were enough to distract their fathers from the best laid, logical plans. I keep in mind Your Excellency's grave preoccupations with the defense of that island (Cuba), beautiful woman whom all nations are wooing, but I also believe that Your Excellency, zealous in the King's service, will make a special study of coming to the relief of this place with all that it needs. In a circular of January 30 of this year, sent to all councils of the cities of these Indies, the King especially recommends the defense of all his American dominions, offering at the same time to send troops from the Kingdom for the making of a more vigorous resistance. But if it should happen that these can not be supplied, either by reason of some serious obstacle by sea or land, or for any other good reason, then, in obedience to my duty, and to the reiterated commands of the King to report to Your Excellency, I must set before Your Excellency my resources, begging for whatever may be necessary to the defense of this place; because, if the war continues, I am under the necessity of asking for 370 infantrymen, and 24 artillerymen. During the siege and before, and counting the men not fit for duty, the troops of this garrison and of the reenforcements were reduced by this number, there remaining of the former only 116 fit for duty, and of the latter ony 240, making 356. As both corps should amount to 750, 350 of the old garrison, and 400 of the eight companies of the reenforcements, and as there are in this garrison no more than 356 between the two, it is plain that I need 394 men, just the number I am asking for, and having reference to the terms under which the King held this place. But as it is now threatened with the most furious anger reason of the damage inflicted upon the English in their siege of it, it is my duty at the same time to ask Your Excellency, should the war continue, for 300 armed men more, mulattoes and free negroes from the militia of Cuba. I regard it as important to the best and most useful service of the King, that in the agreement made to this end, it be stipulated and arranged with them, that they are to do armed duty when necessary, and manual labor all the time, these being the two purposes they must understand they are coming for. But if this should appear to Your Excellency to be too heavy a task, an agreement might be reached with them to divide them into two shifts, giving to one half indulgence, in order to have them work for weeks or months, and allowing them to employ their spare time in rest or amusement, or in the pursuit of anything that might appeal to the intelligence of each one. And if Your Excellency could send them armed, it will be and is of significance to the Ring's service, there being no one here to perform it, because this is now a Hospital. At the same time, I must point out to Your Excellency that it would be most profitable to send the negroes and mulattoes at the very first opportunity to put the position into the proper condition, and that the infantry and artillery should be here by December 20 of this year at the latest. The great penetration of Your Excellency will perceive from these terms, that the King can impose no charge upon me without my recurring to Your Excellency, as he commanded, for all that is necessary to put this place in the condition His Majesty desires, and that in following this course I am discharging my obligation in obedience to the royal orders directing me to apply to Your Excellency for all that the custody of this place demands. With respect to all this, I believe that if it be possible, all measures will promptly be taken to send me the succor in question : and that if it be impossible to send the number of troops and militia, Your Excellency will fully satisfy the King on this point, and I shall have fully complied with his sovereign commands, and no one can caluminously charge me with omission, indolence or neglect. I firmly believe that Your Excellency's lofty talents will not disavow my legitimate and just petitions in behalf of the royal principle whence they flow; and that if the King destines troops for the better defense of this place, my petitions would still remain in force; for His Majesty will naturally count upon his garrison, and upon what he had before directed to be sent, because he will think that his directions have been obeyed. Florida, August 7, 1740.

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