The Virginia Gazette

The following copy of a letter written by a Gentleman in Savannah, and lately brought to this place, will serve to put the Americans on their guard, as in distinct clauses discloses to the world the mean artifices practiced by the enemy to gain intelligence from them.

Dear WILLIE,

Ebenezer, Feb. 13, 1780.

I FIND by Mr. Yonge's information, that Mrs. Stewart had leave to come away, and would have come off yesterday with him, but that he had not room for her in his boat; I have therefore thought it not amiss to send you the inclosed for the Commodore; if he agrees, I would imagine one benefit may be reaped from another flag, if you can contrive to employ some clever fellow in the business that may be trusted, and may be able to procure us some articles of useful intelligence I would think you should lay yourself out much in this way: which, from your knowledge of all the people, I should imagine is a line you would be very serviceable in. The great object would be to fix, if possible, a constant correspondence with one or more clever people on the other side and this to be done without the principals on either side ever appearing in it. What I mean you to do is no more than to find and point out those people that could be useful in this and every other way, and to be always vigilant to detect all spies, or even suspicious persons, that may be amongst us. This is by no means wishing you to turn secret informer, it is only pointing out to you how you can serve your country-do what I am doing myself-all I can to hold out proper persons to be employed on the other side as spies.

Adieu, dear William, yours sincerely,

ALEXANDER SHAW

P. S. If the Commodore is so good to give you leave for a boat, write Mrs. Stewart an ostensible letter, that you have at length, by the interest of a friend, procured leave to send a boat for her; any secret matter to your emissary can only be verbal.