P. S. Absolute hurry and necessity obliges me to write thus.
This letter gave me much comfort, as it brought me the welcome news that my dear family was safe. This Mr. _Bryan_ was converted at the Orphan-house, and is a wealthy planter in _South-Carolina_. I admire the providence of GOD, in raising him up to take care of the little lambs in this time of their distress. I hope ere now they are returned to their _Bethesda_ in peace.
Blessed be GOD I have not been disappointed of my hope. For since my return to _London_, I have received the following letters, which give a more particular account both of their tryal and deliverance, and for which I desire to praise our great and gracious GOD.
From Mr. _Habersham_, at Mr. _Jonathan Bryan_’s Plantation in _South-Carolina, July 11, 1742_.
_My dearest Friend and Brother_,
GOD’s ways are in the deep; the LORD only knows what he is about to do with your dear family. Here at Mr. _Bull_’s and at Mr. _Hugh Bryan_’s they sojourn at present, and all, blessed be our gracious JESUS, in pretty good bodily health. Distress from the hands of the _Spaniards_ (under GOD) seems to be coming upon poor _Georgia_, and perhaps upon this colony also. Our afflictions have been heavy: the LORD only enabled us to bear up under them; but I really believe we have tasted but the first fruits of our trials. Was it not for a persuasion that GOD can, yea, will help us, we must sink under a prospect of impending difficulties. About the 25th of last month several _Spanish_ galleys came into _Cumberland_ sound, a little to the South of St. _Simon_’s, where the General’s forces are encamped. The General himself in a deal cutter, accompanied with two boats, was attacked by them, and had a very wonderful escape. The gallies went off as though they would go to _Augustine_; but a day or two after returned, attended with several schooners, sloops, and ships of force to St. _Simon_’s. Several days they lay within sight of the General’s camp. When we heard this, we kept a day of fasting, prayer, and humiliation, to ask direction of our great shepherd what we should do. As the _Spanish_ fleet had then made no inroad upon the General, we concluded to _stand still_ and wait upon GOD. The 5th instant the _Spanish_ fleet run into St. _Simon_’s _Sound_, up the river that leads to _Frederica_. The fleet, I hear, consisted of thirty-five or thirty-seven vessels; and notwithstanding the General fired upon them from his battery, and two privateers, and other vessels did the same, they passed without seeming to regard them, and landed a great number of people at _Gascoign’s Bluff_ on St. _Simon_’s. The General seeing himself encompassed about with enemies, ordered several sloops, _New-Yorkers_, laden with provision to be sunk; his privateer sloop was burnt, and Captain _Thomson_ and the ♦schooner made the best of their way to the North. The General is now surrounded by the _Spaniards_ upon an island, without having one vessel of any bigness to carry him and his army off. He retreated from St. _Simon_’s (burnt all the hutts, houses, &c. there) to _Frederica_, and gave leave for the women and children, and I think all except his fighting people, to make their escape.
♦ “scooner” replaced with “schooner”