Commanding Department of the South-West,

MOBILE, ALABAMA.

GENERAL:

I arrived with my party to-day. In Pensacola, I found the
British hospitably entertained, not only by the people, but
by Governor Mauriquez himself. They are actually enlisting
the savages in their service, arming them with rifles and
knives and attempting to make regular soldiers out of them.
I saw a British captain drilling about fifty Indians in the
public square of the town at noon to-day.

I beg to report, also, that the British occupy the defensive
works of the town, including Fort Barrancas, from the
flagstaffs of which float both the British and the Spanish
ensigns, as if the two were allies in this war.

I am unable to report as yet what the strength of the
British force here is. I have observed men from seven
different companies, in the streets, but have been unable to
learn, without direct inquiry, which would excite suspicion,
whether all these companies are present in full strength, or
whether there are also others here.

The ships in the bay, so far as I can make them out, are the
Hermes, Captain Percy, 22 guns; the Sophia, Captain Lockyer,
18 guns; the Carron, 20 guns; and the Childers, 18 guns.