The Virginia Gazette

NEW-YORK, December 11.

Yesterday arrived here in 18 Days from Charles-Town, in South-Carolina, Captain Lempriere, who we hear came Express to his Excellency General Amherst, from the Governour of Carolina, desiring Assistance against their Indian Enemy : By him we are advised, that all Prospect of a Peace with the Cherokees was vanished; one Louis Lantinac (a Frenchman born, once a Cadet in Captain Nelson's Company of Independents, after that a Trader from Carolina to the Cherokees, but now) a French Officer, had arrived with Presents from the French, and persuaded them to take up the Hatchet against the English; and that they were joined by the Creeks and Shawanese, and are supposed to be in all 5 or 6000, some say 7 or 8000, who intend to lay Siege to Fort Prince-George, and destroy all the Country before them: That the Regulars under the Command of Major Hamilton (about 5 or 600) were at Congarees, and that the Carolina Provincials amounted to about 1500. That though it might seem strange that the Province of Carolina could not raise a sufficient Force to repel such an Enemy, yet that in Fact it was so, near two Thirds of the Inhabitants being Negroes, who required a large Number of the Whites to keep them in proper Subjection. That the Indians had fully rebuilt their Towns and Houses destroyed by Colonel Montgomery, and had sufficient Supplies of Corn and Provisions (to which some of our own People contributed) so that they were in a Condition to carry on the War, and in Disposition to do it with the utmost Fury. That they greatly despised the English, and treated their Threats with Contempt; especially since Colonel Byrd with his Army, notwithstanding his Menaces, was so far from being likely to molest them, that they were retired to winter in Augusta County. The Indians refused to accept of the Prisoners of their own Nation, in Exchange for ours, with the greatest Disdain.